It is engaged in collecting and maintaining information 

 on the forest resources, forestry operations, and forest-based 

 industries of the USSR and of the countries currently within 

 the Soviet sphere of influence. 



MENSURATION UNIT 



This unit quantifies information which is basic to regional 

 land use planning, to the regulation of cut in forest areas, 

 and to various uses such as volume or growth estimation in 

 routine management of the timber resource. Areas of work 

 include the observation and measurement of forest stands, 

 the determination of volume yield per acre, assessment of 

 rates of growth, and the prediction of future wood 

 production. 



FIRE CONTROL UNIT 



This unit was established during the year to study aspects of 

 fire control. Work was directed towards the development 

 of a long-range program. 



A review was initiated of completed, current, and pro- 

 posed fire research programs, projects and studies in Canada 

 and the United States. 



Assistance was provided to Forest Protection Branch pri- 

 marily with detection assessment and improvement studies 

 and the evaluation of certain fire retardant chemicals. 



DEVELOPMENTAL UNIT 



Modifications and improvements were made to the Tree 

 Breeding greenhouse ventilating system, and a new design 

 developed for exterior shade screens. 



An irrigation system, using recycled water for the tree 

 nurseries on the Station, was designed and submitted as an 

 improvement project. 



Assistance was given to other units and branches in de- 

 veloping equipment, material and techniques peculiar to 

 their requirements. 



ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 



A study has been initiated to provide information on the 

 North Simcoe District of the Toronto-Centred Region with 

 respect to the capacity of the environment to attract and 

 sustain outdoor activities without environmental deteriora- 

 tion. The study group, directed by a member of Research 

 Branch, is composed of personnel from various other 

 branches. 



TUBED SEEDLINGS 



A variety of empirical tests, dealing with methodology of 

 growing tubed seedling material in a greenhouse environ- 

 ment, has been carried out at the request of Timber Branch. 



FIELD UNITS 



MIDHURST RESEARCH UNIT 

 Several plantings were made in the Vespra and Kemptville 

 District research areas and in Parry Sound District and other 

 locations in connection with a number of projects related to 

 practical problems in nursery operations or planting. 



The study of over-winter storage methods was continued 

 at Orono Nursery. First-year measurements of survival, total 

 height and terminal growth were obtained in the fall. Further 

 studies to examine the influence of degree of hardiness were 

 initiated at Orono and Kemptville Nurseries. 



SOUTHWESTERN FOREST UNIT 



One objective is the development of practical techniques for 

 the selection, mass production, establishment and culture 

 of fast-growing, veneer-quality phenotypes of the commer- 

 cially important hardwood species in the lowlands and up- 

 lands of southern Ontario. Tests were made using mounding 

 and draining techniques for planting on poorly drained sites. 

 Rooted material of silver maple, eastern cottonwood and 

 jackii poplar were outplanted in Ellice, Beverly, Luther and 

 Elderslie swamps. 



The objective of an upland program is the establishment 

 of hardwood in suitable combinations on open sites and the 

 rehabilitation of downgraded woodlots in southwestern 

 Ontario. Special emphasis is placed on the use of high- 

 quality poplar and poplar hybrids as early associates capa- 

 ble of providing a balanced environment for the succession 

 of climax hardwoods. 



A total of 2,000 unrooted cuttings of Populus euramericana 

 were planted in five different locations to determine the 

 effects of site on their rooting ability, survival and initial 

 development. It was observed that cultural treatment and 

 site quality play an important role in early development. 



SOUTHEASTERN FOREST UNIT 



Information, gathered from tests conducted, reveals that 

 prescribed fire can be used successfully as a means of pre- 

 paring a seed bed for yellow birch and for reducing compe- 

 tition. One or two fires, taking place in successive autumns, 

 can produce excellent seedbed conditions, providing the 

 second (or only) burn occurs during a yellow birch seed 

 year. In addition, the stand should be cut during the autumn 

 or winter following the fire to ensure adequate light for 

 height growth of the seedlings during their first growing 

 season. 



The use of peat wedges for planting on shallow land was 

 tested, using over 14,000 coniferous and hardwood trees. 



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