TIMBER PRODUCTION 

 SECTION 



SILVICULTURE UNIT 



The silvicultural operations of the Unit include the regener- 

 ation and tending of forests on Crown lands, lands managed 

 under agreements such as Township, County and Conserva- 

 tion Authority Forests, and Lands managed under The 

 Woodlands Improvement Act. 



Forests may be regenerated by natural or artificial means. 

 Site preparation is usually necessary to disturb the forest 

 floor and top soil, creating more suitable conditions for 

 natural regeneration, seeding or planting. Site preparation 

 also promotes better survival and growth. 



The tree seed is self-sown in natural regeneration. The site 

 preparation is done adjacent to a seed source, or the harvest 

 system may be modified with the retention of strips of green 

 timber or single trees to provide the seed. 



Artificial regeneration involves site preparation of large 

 areas for planting and seeding. Nursery stock is planted by 

 machine or by hand. Tubed seedlings are grown in green- 

 houses and planted by hand. Seeding may be done from 

 the air or from the ground. 



Tending includes treatments such as cleaning, herbicide 

 spraying for release, thinning, improvement cutting, and 

 pruning during the life of the forest. 



COMP^kRISON OF AV ER^GE AWUAL AREA CUT 0\ ER 



AND Area Regenerated on Crown Lands (acres) 



Average Annual Cutover, 1965-67 395,000 



Average Area regenerated without 



silvicultural treatment, 1966-68 132,500 



Area regenerated by silvicultural 



treatment, 1969-70 133,500 



SEED COLLECTION 



The inventory of forest tree seed in storage at the Ontario 

 Tree Seed Plant at Angus, as of June 1, 1969, was about 

 2,370,000,000 viable seeds of 45 species, weighing 386,000 

 ounces or over 12 tons, and valued at approximately 

 $400,000. The 1969 crop was a good crop year for the pines 

 and a number of other species but a poor one for spruce. 

 The volume of red pine cones collected was the largest in 

 more than 25 years. 



1969 Seed Crop 

 Species 



Bushels 

 Collected 



White Pine 2,385 



Red Pine 4,130 



jack Pine 4,650 



Scotch Pme 180 



Black Spruce 408 



White Cedar 195 



Black Walnut 5,370 



Other Species 40" 



TOTAL 17,725 



TREE IMPROVEMENT 



Through application of the scientific principles of forest 

 genetics, we are improving the quality and increasing the 

 quantity of available seed. Our approaches include the se- 

 lection of additional "plus trees", the development of seed 

 production areas, and the planting of grafted trees in seed 

 orchards. The program is concerned mainly with white pine, 

 red pine, jack pine, white spruce, black spruce and red 

 spruce. 



During the year, we collected 8,200 scions from "plus 

 trees"; these were grafted at our co-operating nurseries. A 

 total of 18.0 acres of seed production area was thinned, re- 

 leased or improved in other ways for seed pioduction pur- 

 poses. Planting of 1 ,500 grafted trees was completed on 1 1 .0 

 acres of seed orchard. 



As of March 31,1970 

 Seed Production Areas 

 Seed Orchards 



NURSERY SOIL MANAGEMENT 

 Our objective is to maintain the balance of soil nutrients to 

 produce top-quality seedlings. During the year, 375 soil 

 samples and 428 plant samples (consisting of 5,600 seed- 

 lings) were analyzed for chemical composition and physio- 

 logical properties. The analysis data is used to evaluate soil 

 and plant conditions and in the preparation of the soil 

 amendment program needed to produce high quality stock. 



Herbicides and fertilizers are being tested constantly. 

 When a new technique proves effective in nursery practice, 

 it is used to control weeds and increase seedling quality. 



Disease and nutrient studies are also being carried out on 

 a co-operative basis with staff on Research Branch, the Can- 

 ada Department of Forestry and Fisheries and the Univer- 

 sity of Toronto. 



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