1926 



DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 



89 



replace lost soil moisture it is impossible to retain an optimum moisture content 

 in the soil during dry seasons and similarly we are unable to dry out the soil to 

 the proper degree when "damping off" threatens the seedlings, as this leaves 

 the seed beds entirely dependent upon a rainfall which must follow almost 

 immediately to be of any value. 



While the lack of irrigation facilities has proved a severe handicap, notably 

 with red pine which is regarded as one of the most important species for reforesta- 

 tion purposes, the success attained with certain other species, including Scotch 

 and jack pines, white cedar and white spruce, has been so encouraging as to 

 induce an expansion in coniferous seed-bed operations which would other- 

 wise be unwarranted. 



In the spring sixty beds were sown which were largely experimental. In 

 all three species the most striking difference was the much better production 

 obtained from neighbouring beds sown in the preceding fall. 



FALL SOWING OF CONIFEROUS BEDS 



No. of Beds 



Species: Sown. 



Red Cedar 15 



White Cedar 18 



Jack Pine 33 



Red Pine 70 



Scotch Pine 45 



White Pine 78 



White Spruce 29 



Total 288 



I 



SOWING OF HARDWOOD SEED 



Total 



Species: Bushels. 



White Ash 5 



Basswood 2 



Black Cherry 2 



White Elm 2 



Red Maple 4 



Silver Maple 12 



Red Oak 10 



Walnuts 16 



Walnuts 50 



Total 103 



Fertilizers: Green manures were resorted to extensively, crops of fall rye 

 and buckwheat being ploughed under on all land not actually occupied by seed 

 beds or transplant lines. In addition, the following fertilizers, other than green 

 manures, were applied during the year. 



