6 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



As already stated, the chief object of the investiga- 

 Strip C Metiiod t ^ on was to determine the condition of these cut-over 



lands with respect to the degree of regeneration and 

 the rate of growth of the present pulpwood-producing species, namely, 

 spruce and balsam. Sample plots were made by the strip method. 

 These strips, run on a compass line, were one-half chain wide and 

 varied in length from 1 to 80 chains. All the trees on the strips 

 above 8 inches in diameter were calipered. Those from 8 to 4 inches 

 in diameter were classed as poles, while those 4 inches in diameter 

 down to trees breast high, were designated as saplings. At the end 

 of every second chain, a square rod plot was marked out and the 

 number of seedlings on it counted, any tree less than breast high 

 being considered a seedling without regard to its actual age. The 

 number of seedlings per acre was calculated on the basis of these 

 square rod plots. The ages of the seedlings in relation to the time 

 of the cuttings were also determined. The stumps on the strips 

 were also calipered and the age of the cutting determined. The 

 total area of the sample strips on which the trees of all sizes were 

 thus measured, counted, and classified, comprises 60 acres. 



The growth studies were made fot the most part on four sample 

 plots varying from 1/10 to 1 acre in size. Every coniferous tree 

 larger than a seedling on these plots was cut and a complete stem 

 analysis made of it. In this manner, the rate of growth of some 

 2,000 trees was determined. 



The original forest in the southern portion of the 

 St. Maurice valley was undoubtedly dominated by 

 pine, probably, for the most part, white pine. We 

 found, on the average, 6 pine stumps to the acre still standing. 

 This is the average of all the sample plots taken in all the various 

 conditions. Only 8 of the sample plots failed to reveal at least 

 one pine stump, a.nd on some, the pine stumps ran as high as 20 

 per acre. Considering that the first cutting of pine in this region 

 took place between 60 and 70 years ago, and that there has been 

 practically no cutting of it for 30 years, thus allowing 30 to 70 years 

 for the stumps to decay, it is quite remarkable that the average of 

 all conditions should yield 6 stumps to the acre still recognizable, 

 as pine. Undoubtedly, we are safe in assuming that the original 

 number of pine trees was considerably more than 5 per acre. 



However, I do not think of the original forest as 

 having been a pure stand of pine. Although pine 

 was biologically dominant, it was outnumbered by 

 other species. I picture the original forest as having a distinctly 

 two-storeyed crown cover. The lower storey was a mixed forest of 



