98 EEPOET OF THE 



No. 3 



is an estimate of the cost of planting upon favorable soils as found at the Norfolk 



Forest Station: — 



One acre, planted 5x5 feet, requires l,7i2 plants. 



Cost of 1,743 plants, at $3.50 per 1,000 $6 10 



Cost of labor in planting 1,74,3 plants, at $3.00 per day . . 3 90 



Total cost per acre $9 oo 



One acre, planted 6x6 feet, requires 1,310 plants. 



Cost of 1,310 plants, at $3.50 per 1,000 $4 34 



Cost of labor in planting 1,310 plants at $3.00 per day . . 3 03 



Total cost per acre $6 36 



The cost of restocking lands such as are being dealt with in Norfolk, should 

 not average over $8.00 per acre and with better organization this cost can be 

 lowered. To plant cut-over and burned-over areas which exist in the central part 

 of Ontario the cost will run from $8.00 to $13.00 per acre. 



At the present time it is not feasible to undertake artificial reforesting upon 

 the burned-over lands in the newer portions of Ontario. It will he necessary to 

 have more intensive organization and better insurance against fires before this 

 problem can be undertaken. When our people are fully educated to the necessity of 

 'protecting forest growth, the methods and technique of forest planting will be the 

 least of our problems in restocking those denuded areas upon which natural growth 

 of value has failed to reproduce. 



In this connection it may he of interest to outline the life history of one or 

 two of the typical northern trees. This will be done with the idea of explaining 

 the methods of nature in producing forests. The life history of the White Pine 

 will do for that class of trees known as Conifers or Evergreens. 



White Pine trees begin to produce seed at from twenty to forty years of age. 

 The seed is produced in cones, which are borne on the terminal branches in the 

 upper parts of the tree. These cones are two seasons in coming to maturity. They 

 mature at the end of August of the second year. The scales of the cone open 

 and release the seed through the action of the sun and drying wind. All seeds 

 of any value have fallen from the cones by the middle of September, and the 

 empty cone may remain upon the tree for weeks or even months. 



The frequency of seed years for White Pine depends upon climatic conditions 

 and ability of trees to obtain plant food. Heavy seed years seem to occur through 

 certain regions every five to seven years. In Southern Ontario large, healthy road- 

 side trees frequently produce seed year after year. 



One pound of White Pine seed may be obtained from one to two bushels of 

 oones, depending upon the vigor of the parent tree and upon seasonal differences. 

 One pound of seed contains from 35,000 to 30,000 seeds, depending upon the size 

 and quality of the cones. 



The seed of the White Pine is about one quarter of an inch in length and is 

 provided with a thin, delicate wing, as shown in Fig. XL The dry, warm winds of 

 early September open the cones, releasing the winged seed, which is often carried 

 a considerable distance before reaching the ground. 



Owing to many enemies only a small proportion of seed reaching the ground ever 

 germinates and grows. The seed is much sought after by birds, squirrels and mice. 

 The plants produced by the small proportion of seeds which germinate after reach- 

 ing the ground have still another struggle. The White Pine seedling is at first a 



