Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for fiscal year ending March 31, 1951 Page 110 



loosens the soil so that seedlings may be lifted out easily, either for transplanting or 

 direct shipping while the root pruner cuts the roots a few inches below the surface 

 and stimulates the formation of a compact root growth. 



In order to improve the yield of forest tree seeds, a pilot plant was built in 

 1947 which applied infrared heat to cones. Tests showed better and faster results 

 than the old method and the pilot plant was moved to the provincial seed extraction 

 plant at Angus where it has been in operation for three years. Tests are continuing 

 there on red pine, for which this method appears well adapted. 



A seeding probe or "walking stick" seeder was built for direct seeding of forest 

 trees wherever this method is possible or practical. This device is hand operated and 

 light in weight. It punches a hole in the ground and drops a single seed. It is designed 

 to handle coated seeds because they are uniform in size and can be dispensed readily 

 one at a time. Naked seed of some species can be used though not with the same 

 precision, and several seeds may be dropped at once. 



A number of other projects have been or are being carried on including the 

 following: the "Easifill" fire fighter's pack can, which may be quickly and easily filled 

 in very shallow water; a mechanically operated fire hose folder and a fire line digger; 

 tests of hose for resistance to wear and decay, an aerial seeder for dispensing forest 

 tree seed from airplanes; tests of carboloy and stellite — treated and untreated cutting 

 tools to keep tools sharp for a longer time. 



Seed Studies 



Seeding Habit of Red Pine: This project continues under the direction of Dr. George 

 Duff, who began this work in 1946. The main object of the work is to gain an under- 

 standing of the factors controlling the production and behaviour of forest tree seed. 

 The red pine has been chosen as the first species to be investigated because seed pro- 

 duction of this important reforestation tree is very erratic. Field headquarters for 

 this investigation is at Angus, and the work is done mainly on trees in the plantations 

 of Simcoe County (Angus, Camp Borden, Midhurst and Craighurst) and at Chalk 

 River. 



In the study during 1950 of factors controlling cone production the chief point 

 of interest lay in the heavy premature seed production of young trees in the Craighurst 

 plantation. The pattern of growth exhibited by the bearing trees in contrast with the 

 barren specimens was investigated, and the correlation of this with the topographical 

 and soil conditions in the stand is being determined. The first attempt was made in 

 1950 to influence growth and cone production by the application of growth hormones 

 to trees in several of the plantations. 



In the stud\- of factors restricting seed production in formed cones, work on 

 insects infesting cones was begun by the Forest Insect Laboratory and will be reported 

 elsewhere. The occurrence of aborted and hollow seed was found to be substantial, 

 and the causes appear to be complex. 



Work on the optimum conditions for seed production in culture continued. 

 Experimental plots have been prepared by thinning existing plantation stands as they 

 reached various stages of density. There are now plots of thirty, twenty and 



