Nursery Soil Management: Reforestation Section's objective is to produce in 

 the shortest period of time and as economically as possible the required number 

 of top quality plantable seedlings for the use of Ontario, private lands, 

 Conservation Authorities, Educational and Scientific purposes and Centennial 

 tree planting projects. 



To help maintain high quality of stock, 296 soil samples and 642 plant 

 samples (consisting of approximately 25,000 seedlings) were analyzed. 



The analysis data are used to indicate critical levels of certain elements 

 which contribute to seedling germination, development and growth. Also, these 

 laboratory data help in detecting the shortcomings in the method of tree production 

 as well as the application of soil amendments for maintenance of the balance of 

 available nutrients in the nursery beds. 



Various herbicides and soil fumigants are being tested and successfully used 

 in reduction of disease or in the control of weeds in seed beds. Furthermore, 

 herbicides and fumigants can increase the percentage of seed germination and 

 seedling growth. 



Co-operative research experiments are carried out with the University of 

 Toronto in the studies in optimum fertilizer levels, the relationship of fertilizer 

 and stock density to growth, and in the use of irrigation water. 



Nursery diseases, seedling nutrition and nursery soil fertility studies are 

 undertaken on a co-operative basis with the Department of Forestry. 



Seed Collection: Tree seed was collected, processed, stored and distributed 

 as required for sowing in tree nurseries, for direct seeding operations and other 

 purposes. The inventory of forest tree seed in storage at the Ontario Tree Seed 

 Plant at Angus, as of June 1, 1965, was about 1,852,500,000 viable seeds of 43 

 species, weighing 336,200 ounces or slightly over 10.5 tons and valued at 

 approximately $236,000.00. 



Larger amounts of seed are collected and stored in a good crop year, 

 providing the necessary reserve to overcome shortages because of the natural 

 periodicity of good cone crops, which may vary from every 3 to every 5 years, or 

 by failure of the crop due to disease or insect attack or unfavourable climatic 

 conditions. The 1965 crop year was a poor one for most coniferous species. 



1965 SEED CROP YEAR — COLLECTED 



Species Number of Bushels 



White Pine 4 



Red Pine 640 



Jack Pine 6,512 



Scotch Pine 193 



White Spruce 10 



Black Spruce 219 



Other Species 329 



Total 7,907 



An additional 585 lbs. of seed was purchased, including 500 lbs. of red 

 pine seed. 



272 



