DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1928 127 



(5) Woodlot Improvement 



During the winter, whenever the swamps were in such a condition that horses 

 could not be driven through them, the men were employed in improving the 

 existing woodlots by cutting out dead and defective trees and thinning out the 

 suppressed trees in dense stands. Ten acres of swamp land composed of spruce, 

 balsam, tamarack and popular were so treated and five acres of highland pine 

 and mixed hardwood with some scattered trees in new plantations yielded twenty- 

 five cords of fire-wood besides 640 fence posts and 12.4 M.Bd.Ft. of lumber. 



In addition to the above work, many stands containing poplar that had 

 been thinned in previous winters were again gone over and all poplars showing 

 signs of cankers were removed. 



(6) Publicity 



The Provincial Forest Station exhibit, last year created so much interest 

 that it was decided to continue sending it to fairs. This year the following fall 

 fairs were visited: Midland, Oro, Coldwater, Orillia, Barrie, Collingwood, 

 Elmvale, Alliston, Bolton, Bradford and Cookstown. 



In addition to the above, the following townships' school fairs were visited — 

 Tay, Waubaushene, Sunnidale, Innisfil, Essa, West Gwillimbury, Vespra, Oro, 

 Adjala, Tossorontio, North Nottawasaga, North Orillia, Morrison and South 

 Nottawasaga. 



This year saw a great increase in the use of the Forestry Station as a com- 

 munity centre. Several large conventions came to Midhurst during the year. 

 The Forestry Recreation Club composed of the employees, their families and 

 neighbours, again operated an open air hockey and skating rink, and on July 

 2nd conducted a large baseball tournament on the athletic grounds. 



Sand Banks 



Seven acres of rooted poplar and cuttings were planted on the banks. 

 Experiments were also continued with straw, sweet clover and brush, and 

 eighteen rods of new plank fence were erected. 



Nursery stock for distribution 1929 amounts to 92,000 conifers, 17,000 

 hardwoods and 108,000 cuttings. 



Kemptville 



Trees were distributed locally from this nursery but the few thousand 

 which it contains are wholly inadequate for the demand which is required for 

 this section of the province. 



Nursery stock on hand for distribution in 1929 amounts to 115,000. 



COUNTY FORESTS 



Four new county forests were established during the year. Two of these, 

 Orr Lake and Durham, were commenced by counties which already had forests, 

 namely, Simcoe and the united counties of Northumberland and Durham. 



The following trees were planted: 



