Red spruce has been studied from a number of different 

 points of view over the past several years. These may be 

 most easily grouped under three general headings: 

 Productivity — ecology involving a number of fundamental 

 aspects, including growth and nutrition. 

 Taxonomical and genetical relationships within and between 

 other species, including provenance studies, etc. 

 Practical applications for management in the near future, 

 including underplanting studies and assistance in seed 

 production areas, etc. 



One more year should complete the general field work. This 

 will be followed by a sampling in our rather extensive spruce 

 provenance plantations. 

 SOUTH-CENTRAL ONTARIO 



The forester in charge of research work in the region was 

 occupied almost exclusively in furthering the large-scale 

 planting operations of tubed seedlings by the Timber 

 Branch. In the late spring and summer of 1966, a number 

 of tubed seedling production sites in the Districts were 

 visited in an effort to overcome problems that had arisen in 

 germinating seed and in growing seedlings. The operational 

 manual of instructions was revised. 



Silvics, Silviculture and Management of Sugar Maple and 

 associated species. A program was continued on the study 

 of the ecology of this forest association, and to apply the 

 knowledge gained in developing appropriate silvicultural 

 and management procedures for optimum production of 

 high quality hardwood timber. 



One project may be selected for mention here: research into 

 the problems of production of high quality sugar maple. 

 During 1966-67, additional information was gathered on tree 

 quality and diameter distribution in a number of different 

 stands as a basis for developing controlled methods of 

 improvement cutting. A broad program of cutting is planned 

 to cover the variations which occur in quality, stocking and 

 species composition in various stands. 

 Part of the work initiated in this project has followed an 

 evolutionary shift toward a more fundamental framework 

 and has been relocated at Maple headquarters. Objectives 

 of this study involve the dynamics of mineral stains, decay 

 and tree form defects in sugar maple. 



SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO 



Research in this region aims to suggest good forest man- 

 agement practices on stands most of which are in private 

 ownership and have become derelict. Particular attention 

 was given in 1966 to the propagation and cultural treatment 

 of silver maple and eastern Cottonwood, largely to replace 

 the heavy mortality in elm from the Dutch elm disease. 

 Studies were continued in 1966 of these two species, which 

 are about the only commercial trees capable of growing in 

 the swamps of southwestern Ontario. These included growth, 

 thinning and planting studies, as well as the mass produc- 

 tion of phenotypes vegetatively by budding, layering and 

 cuttings. 



Work continued on the establishment of such species as red 

 oak, basswood, hybrid poplar, large-toothed aspen and white 

 and red pine. 



Research was also furthered in the use of herbicides, silvi- 

 cides and soil sterilants, as well as in maple sap and syrup 

 productivity. 



SOUTHEASTERN ONTARIO 



Research in this region has been primarily concerned with 

 the ecology of the tolerant hardwood association, especially 

 the treatment of cutover stands to improve quality. The 

 principal projects are prescribed burning and the silvics of 

 basswood. 



The objective of the prescribed burning project is to deter- 

 mine the effects of fire in hardwood stands to improve 

 regeneration. Studies have been undertaken in four areas 

 which have met with varying degrees of success. While re- 

 examination of plots on several of these areas will be con- 

 tinued, it has been suggested that the use of prescribed 

 fire in hardwoods should be studied on an operational scale 

 where realistic appraisal of its potential can be made. 

 The objective of the basswood project is to determine the 

 possibility of increasing the proportion of this high quality, 

 fast-growing species in hardwood associations, particularly 

 with maple. Studies were continued on fruit and seed relat- 

 ing to successful germination; natural regeneration after 

 various treatments; results of planting nursery stock; and 

 the management in general of hardwood stands with bass- 

 wood admixture. 



A Research Information Paper was published in 1966 on 

 one aspect of the planting on shallow lands in the Kempt- 

 ville district. 



Maple Headquarters Research 



REFORESTATION 



Nursery and Planting: The objective of this program is the 

 procurement of information through research for the 

 scientific advancement of the reforestation program of the 

 Department. The work was initiated in 1953 with the chief 

 areas of attention being nursery operations, handling of 

 shipping stock, planting methods, frost damage to planta- 

 tions, and fertilization. Work was continued on the following 

 projects in the year 1966-67. (The figures in brackets indi- 

 cate the years in which the projects were started.) 

 Culling and grading of nursery stock (1953); depths and 

 methods of planting (1948); seedlings vs transplants (1957); 

 moisture retaining materials (1955); nursery stock field stor- 

 age (1956); wrapping materials (1956); methods of planting 

 for underplanting (1955); Dunemann planting stock (1955); 

 root pruning of nursery stock (1957); nutrient correlations 

 (1%4); adjustment of soil acidity (1959); frost studies (1962); 

 ecotypical variation in black spruce (1959); planting through- 

 out the growth season (1951); studies of planting check 

 (I960); hormone studies (1962); drought studies (1%5); root 

 coating (1966); seedbed densities (1966); and forest fertiliza- 

 tion (1958). 



