Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for fiscal year ending March 31, 1951 Page 114 



Reference Areas for the Identification of Basic Sites: In 1950 field parties selected and 

 examined in detail areas in various parts of the province which will have soils and 

 sites mapped in detail and may be used by foresters and others to assist them in the 

 recognition of various basic sites. These basic sites are recognized as a combination of, 



1. Topographic features, elevation and aspect that determine local climate; 



2. Ground-water and soil profile features determining soil moisture regime; 

 and, 



3. Texture and structure of soil and geologic materials determining the move- 

 ment and retention of water available to plant roots. 



Reference areas have been established in the Thunder Bay, Muskoka and Parry Sound 

 districts and Haliburton County; in the Petawawa Management Unit; in five County 

 Forests, and at Orono nursery. 



Ecoclimatic {local climate) Studies: Twenty-one stations were set up at the University 

 Forest in Haliburton County to study differences in soil and vegetative development 

 on various physiographic positions. Daily measurements of air temperature, evaporation, 

 sunshine and rainfall were recorded close to the ground surface. 



Laboratory Analysis: The work of analysing representative soil samples secured by 

 field parties was continued at the Southern Research Station. Field samples obtained 

 in 1951 will fill the gaps and permit the preparation of a preliminary report on the 

 chemical and physical characteristics of the soils of Northern Ontario. 



Greenhouse Studies: The soil requirements of red pine were studied in the greenhouse 

 at the Southern Research Station, using soil samples from Orono nursery. Application 

 of various fertilizers were made to promote a balanced root development and to 

 increase the percentage of survival. Tests of various methods of reducing soil acidity 

 were also conducted. 



In addition to the greenhouse work assistance was given in planning an experi- 

 ment to study the requirements of red pine in relation to growth and disease in the 

 Orono nursery seedbeds. 



Assistance was also given in establishing permanent sample plots in Algonquin 

 Park and the University Forest for soils and silvicultural experiments. 



Soil Microbiology: Studies in forest soil microbiology were initiated in the University 

 Forest. Arrangements were made to set aside permanent sample plots in the Maple- 

 Hemlock stands from which large samples of surface organic layers were taken for 

 testing of soil fungi development and function. 



Regional Projects 



South Central Region: General exploratory work was continued with respect 

 to the condition of the white pine, including preliminaries to the setting up of an active 

 research project in the Petawawa ^Management Unit in co-operation with the Division 

 of Timber Management. It is proposed that the project will include a study of cutting 

 methods to secure adequate regeneration, maximum growth on residual stands and 

 adequate growing stock. 



