SITE EVALUATION RESEARCH 



Site Evaluation Research is the study of the productive capacity of land 

 categories for various crops under various types of management. 



For a reference area in the southeastern region, use capability ratings were 

 developed for timber, fish, wildlife, agriculture and recreation. A paper, "The 

 Regional Approach to Land-Use Capability Ratings", was presented at a seminar 

 on a National Land Capability Inventory in Ottawa, organized by the Directorate 

 of the Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Act (ARDA). 



MISCELLANEOUS 



The facilities of the draughting room and soils laboratory were fully used in 

 various phases of site research. 



Work of the Site Unit was explained to visiting groups such as members of 

 the World Meteorological Organization and to participants of the joint meeting of 

 the Canadian Institute of Forestry and the Society of American Foresters. Members 

 participated in the Northeastern Forest Soils Conference in Pennsylvania. One 

 member, while on holidays in Europe, also visited during a ten-day period with 

 the Department's support a number of forest soil institutes in West Germany to 

 discuss site classification and soil nutrients. 



Reforestation Research 



The objective of this unit is to procure information for the scientific advance- 

 ment of the reforestation program of the Department. It is closely associated with 

 the work of the Reforestation and Silviculture Sections of the Timber Branch. The 

 research program is conducted largely through experiments at the nurseries, on 

 the planting sites and in plantations. 



NURSERY STUDIES 



Several long-term studies in the nurseries, coupled with shorter studies, have 

 yielded information pertaining to nursery operations. An assessment of the statis- 

 tical methods of sampling, as applied to nursery stock inventory, has been made. 

 Studies of methods of root pruning to produce better seedling stock are being 

 continued. The program of artificial acidification of nursery soils has produced 

 valuable information which awaits final assessment in terms of the success of the 

 planting stock. 



PLANTING METHODS 



Several experiments and studies have been directed to the relationships 

 between variations of establishment techniques and the survival and growth of the 

 tree. Some information is available on growth to the end of the tenth year follow- 

 ing several methods of hand and machine planting. A detailed study has been 

 conducted in one area where large-scale planting failures had been observed. Much 

 of the work has emphasized the need for consistent care in all phases of the 

 operation — both in the nursery and in the outpl anting — and of the important 

 influences of local weather on the success of plantations. 



FOREST FERTILIZATION 



A number of experimental plots which have been fertilized in various ways, 

 following soil and foliar analysis, are being studied. The growth of trees is recorded 



259 



