Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for fiscal year ending March 31, 1951 Page 106 



DIVISION OF RESEARCH 



General Introduction 



As the Research Division is concerned with the solution of certain problems of 

 forest protection, forest management, reforestation, and fish and wildlife management, 

 reference is made to projects in the following, under these headings. 



Forest Protection: The research work in this connection is largely of a mechanical 

 nature, concerned with the improvement of present and the design of new forest fire 

 fighting equipment. The main object is to take the load off the fire fighter's back, and 

 to permit the effective use of mechanical power on the fire line. Examples of equipment 

 developed along these lines are the Pack Tractor and the Easifill fire fighter's pack 

 tank. 



Forest Management: The problems which are given to the Research Division for solu- 

 tion are those of forest reproduction of some species after logging and fire, and of 

 timber growth rate. Studies are made of the reproduction and growth of the most 

 important commercial species in the various regions across the province and 

 experiments are established to prove the findings. As environment has an important 

 relationship, soil, climatic and silvicultural studies are integrated. 



Reforestation: Research projects include the study of seeds, seeding methods, and the 

 production of new and better varieties of trees. The study of seeds aims to improve 

 the production of seed of various tree species to assure a steady supply instead of the 

 widely fluctuating provision of natural forests. The object of the seed treatment 

 studies is to improve germination and survival and to provide seeding devices as a 

 means of reforestation. Examples of mechanical aids in reforestation which have been 

 developed at the Station are the Infra-red Seed Extractor and the Walking Stick 

 Seeder. Two important tree breeding projects are proceeding, one with white pine and 

 the other with poplars. The first is designed to produce a white pine resistant to 

 blister rust and weevil, and the second to produce a poplar of rapid growth, high 

 quality wood, and resistant to disease. 



Fish and Wildlife Management: The objectives are the provision of information 

 necessary for the management of fish and wildlife, and, hence, the improved produc- 

 tion of game and commercial fish, and game and fur-bearing animals. The study of 

 the relationship of fish, birds and mammals to their environment is an integral part of 

 the programs. Environmental relationships are being investigated through field studies 

 of habits and behaviours — food habits, habitat requirements, and the incidence of 

 parasites and disease. Populations are subject to periodic changes from scarcity to 

 plenty, and often since one species is dependent on others for food, a decline in one 

 may be accompanied by a decline in others dependent on it. 



Co-operative Agencies 



The research work conducted both at the Station and in the field is characterized 

 by a high degree of co-operation between the Research Division of the Department 

 and other research organizations, such as those of the Government of Canada, the 

 universities, the Research Council of Ontario and the Ontario Research Foundation. 

 Close co-operation also exists between the Division of Research and the forest 

 industries, commercial fishermen and hunting and fishing groups, both in the 

 initiation of and the carrying out of research projects. 



