to calibrate test results with the crop responses and make 

 soil amendment recommendations of these test results. 

 During the year, 474 soil samples and 461 plant samples 

 were analyzed for chemical composition and physical 

 properties. 



Herbicides are being tested constantly. When a new tech- 

 nique in weed control proves effective in nursery practice, 

 it is applied. Disease and nutrient studies are also being 

 carried out on a co-operative basis with staff of Research 

 Branch, Canada Department of the Environment, and the 

 University of Toronto. 



SILVICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 



The urgent need for mechanization of silvicultural activities 

 directed the main effort in this field towards the develop- 

 ment and testing of new silvicultural equipment. 



A prototype model of a new planting machine for use in 

 Boreal Forest Regions of the Province was built and tested. 

 Also, plans were prepared for a new multi-row, nursery 

 stock harvester. The prototype model is expected to be built 

 during the current year. 



In addition to the development of new equipment by the 

 Department, evaluation studies began on commercially 

 built equipment. One planting machine has already been 

 tested under the joint Federal-Provincial program, and three 

 additional units have been acquired for testing next season. 



Work continued in the interprovincial fertilization pro- 

 gram with the establishment of eight installations in the 

 northern part of the Province this summer. 



SPECIAL PROJECTS 



Junior Rangers. During July and August, the Department 

 employs 17-year-old students under the Junior Forest Ranger 

 Program. Some of these students spent part of their time 

 doing work for Timber Branch. About 17,800 man-days were 

 devoted to cone collection, nursery work, tree planting and 

 forest tending. 



Correctional Forestry Camps. The Department supplied 

 technical guidance for forestry programs carried out by 

 seven forestry camps operated by the provincial Department 

 of Correctional Services and the Beaver Creek Correctional 

 Camp operated by the federal Department of Justice. The 

 seven provincial camps provided a total of 20,761 man-days 

 of labour for the Department. The men cleared road right- 

 of-ways, camp sites, fireguards and compartment bound- 

 aries; collected cones and burned brush; planted, pruned 

 and thinned trees; and worked on cull tree removal projects 

 and projects to provide improved habitats for wildlife. The 

 men from the federal camp worked 3,321 man-days. 



SILVICULTURAL OPERATIONS, 1970-1 



Crown Agreement Total 

 Lands Forests Acreage 



Regenerat/on 



a) Natural 



—by site preparation .. . 14,293 — 14,293 



— by modified harvest 



cutting 6,664 — 6,664 



— by seed tree system . . 4,227 — 4,227 



b) Artificial 

 direct seeding 



—ground 5,377 — 5,377 



—aerial 15,934 — 15,934 



Planting 



—nursery stock 68,553 2,942 71,495 



—tubed seedlings 8,086 — 8,086 



Total Regeneration 123,134 2,942 126,076 



Tending 



Hand cleaning 8,078 1,128 9,206 



Herbicide spraying 16,701 335 17,036 



Thinning, improvement 



cutting 5,742 2,564 8,306 



Girdling, frilling, 



poisoning 5,060 531 5,591 



Marking for improvement 



cut 18,771 109 18,880 



Pruning 3,722 2,073 5,795 



Fertilization, drainage .... 1,177 — 1,177 



Total Tending 59,251 6,740 65,991 



Total Area Treated 182,385 9,682 192,067 



Site Preparation 



for seeding and planting 52,703 1,034 53,737 



105 



