Page 115 Division of Research 



The re-establishment of stands of white pine is one of the most pressing forest 

 problems in Ontario, and investigation is most urgently required. 



A long-term study of yellow birch was started in the summer of 1950. The 

 object is to determine what has brought about the poor condition of yellow birch in 

 the western portion of the South-Central Region, and what corrective action may be 

 taken. 



Midwestern Region: The work undertaken includes the following projects: 



1. Re-examination of the permanent sample plots established in 1948 in the 

 Black Sturgeon Concession of the Great Lakes Paper Company. 



2. Re-examination of the permanent sample plots established in 1949 in the 

 Thunder Bay-Xipigon Concession of the Abitibi Power and Paper Company. 



3. Establishment and tally of a ten acre plot for statistical analysis of 

 information gathered. 



4. Establishment of a spacing plantation. 



5. Seed dispersal test. 



6. Re-examination of a seeding and planting experiment established in 1947 

 on the limits of the Central Canada Forest Products. Ltd., Beardmore. 



Northern Region: A research forester. E. K. E. Dreyer. was appointed to the 

 region in the spring of 1950, with headquarters at Cochrane. Mr. Dreyer is working 

 along the same lines as the two research foresters already appointed. That is. a study 

 is being made of the means of management applicable to the species indigenous to the 

 various regions. An extensive study of the cutting practices and their effect on black 

 spruce is already under way in Leitch Township. 



Forest Pathology 



The Division continued its co-operative arrangement with the Laborator}- of 

 Forest Pathology, Division of Botany. Department of Agriculture. Canada. Two 

 members of the staff of the Division were on loan to this laboratory during the past 

 year. 



Several co-operative projects were undertaken, including the following: 



Damping-off in Red Pine: In October. 1950. an extensive program was initiated 

 to study the results of applying fertilizers to the soil in which red pine seed were sown 

 at the Orono Provincial Forest Station. The purpose of the experiment is to ascertain 

 whether the addition of fertilizers to the soil will promote vigorous enough growth to 

 the seedlings to throw off attack of damping-off fungi. Soil studies were made, the 

 various materials were applied and a system for the collection and interpretation of 

 the data was developed. 



Other co-operative studies, which were reported in some detail last year, were 

 continued, including deterioration of birch, tree damage from atmospheric pollution, 

 and needle blight of white pine. For detailed information on these studies reference 

 should be made to separate reports by Dr. L. T. White. Officer-in-Charge. Dominion 

 Laboratory of Forest Pathology, Toronto. 



