150 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



The diseased poplar trees were cut and used for wood. 



The plantations were patrolled in August for the presence of the pine needle- 

 eating sawfly (Neodiprion lecontei). When isolated patches were found the 

 branches on which the larvae were feeding were burnt or else the tree sprayed 

 with a stomach poison. 



The sparrow traps were used to good advanatage this year. 



Our fire guard system as usual was kept in the best of condition, free from 

 all growth. 



(5) Woodlot Improvement 



Considerable silvicultural work was undertaken in the winter of 1929-30. 

 About forty acres were thinned and improved. This yielded firewood and fence- 

 post as well as logs for box-wood lumber. 



(6) Publicity 



The park at this Station was used extensively by the public, including 

 numerous picnics and other gatherings. 



Sand Banks 



(1) Nursery Operations 



(a) Fertilizers. 



(1) Sand. The soil in the Nursery is a shallow gravelly clay of a limestone 

 origin. It has been in the past rather difficult to manage in the transplant beds 

 due to irregularity in texture and its great tendency to bake and crack during 

 dry weather. 



Earlier soil improvement consisted in raking off the small rocks and stones 

 in an endeavour to improve its workableness. The gravel obtained was used for 

 road improvements. 



It has been found that, due to the application of pure sand, which abounds 

 at close proximity, the till of the soil is vastly improved. All tendency to bake 

 or crack seems to be eliminated and the moisture-holding qualities greatly 

 improved. 



Sand was first applied as a soil improver in 1928 and, due to its marked 

 beneficial results, it has been the practice to apply it yearly. A total of 1,150 

 loads were spread on a one and a half acre transplant area during the past year. 



The quantity of sand proposed to be added to the transplant beds will be 

 sufficient to equal about one-half of the worked depth of the soil or a layer of 2-2 

 inches in thickness. The resultant soil is a sandy loam. 



2. Commercial fertilizers. It has not been the practice to use much 

 commercial fertilizer. Two hundred pounds only of bone meal were used mainly 

 for lawns and hedges. 



3. Manure. Three tons of stable manure were used during the past year. 

 The use of pure sand, it appears, is quite sufficient as a soil improver at 



present. It may be that larger quantities of fertilizers will be necessary later, 

 but as the Sandbanks is, in essence, a transplant nursery, the use of fertilizers, 

 at present at least, does not seem to be necessary. 



(b) Seed. 



A small quantity of seed, mainly hardwoods, was gathered by the Nursery 

 organization last fall. Also, a small quantity was purchased from local pickers. 



