experiments have been designed for the establishment of high quality silver maple 

 in swamps which have been devastated by the Dutch Elm Disease. This problem 

 has stimulated an intensive search for high quality silver maple phenotypes which 

 could be used as a nucleus for propagating quality trees of this species in southern 

 Ontario. To date, nine such trees have been located in the Lake Erie District and 

 propagated by budding at the Orono Forest Nursery. In addition, silver maple 

 and eastern cottonwood have been planted under swamp conditions with consider- 

 able success. Red oak and hybrid poplar have also been successfully established 

 under cultivated conditions on sites which are normally planted with white and 

 red pine. 



Tree Species Research. Measurements showing the annual diameter growth 

 and the seasonal diameter growth patterns of hard maple, American basswood, 

 white ash, silver maple, bur oak and red pine have been collected at bi-monthly 

 Intervals during the growing season to determine the effects of thinning, spacing 

 and pruning on diameter growth. 



Forest Chemical Studies. Forest chemical research studies have indicated that 

 2,4-D ester at the rate of two pounds acid equivalent in ten gallons of water is an 

 extremely effective dosage for eliminating hawthorn and wild apple when applied 

 in mist form as a foliage spray. Such a spray may be used scientifically on weed 

 species growing on rough land, prior to planting with valuable forest trees. 



Mechanical Research. The Cram Injector was tested as a special instrument 

 for applying silvicides to the bole of low quality trees for chemical thinning pur- 

 poses. It was highly successful on poplar, white birch and alder. 



Soil Conservation Research. Gully erosion studies in the John Pierce Park 

 indicated that vegetative control alone is inadequate for preventing serious soil 

 erosion in this guUy, and such measures can only be successful provided the run- 

 off during peak flood periods can be controlled with one or more dams. However, 

 if run-off can be controlled mechanically, it is recommended that black locust be 

 planted on the dry gully sides and willow on the low spots, as both species when 

 established will prevent or reduce surface erosion. 



SOUTH EASTERN FOREST RESEARCH UNIT 



The main objectives of this unit are to determine the effects of prescribed 

 burning as an aid to forest management in Ontario, and to learn the silvics of 

 basswood relating especially to germination problems. 



Prescribed Burning. Spring burning was carried out again in a small diameter 

 hardwood stand, mainly of coppice origin, to evaluate the use of fire as a means 

 of eliminating undesirable reproduction. Maple stems up to 1-inch diameter were 

 destroyed by a single fire of moderate intensity. A preliminary test was made of 

 the germination of seeds of four coniferous species on a seedbed prepared by 

 spring burning. 



In October, 1962, burning was completed in three study areas in hardwood 

 stands and in a 9-acre tract in the University of Toronto Forest. The effects of 

 these and previous bums are being studied, but it is already apparent that fall 

 burning in hardwoods does provide a satisfactory seedbed for seed falling 

 subsequent to the bum. 



Although complete preburn planning and preparation are necessary for all 

 prescribed burns, their value was emphasized last fall when this unit was able to 

 take advantage of suitable burning conditions which unusual weather conditions 

 had created during a 24-hour period. 



BassM'ood. The emphasis has been on obtaining satisfactory germination of 

 seeds, and on the survival and growth of seedlings when underplanted in natural 



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