84 Canadian Forestry Journal. 



The cones of Banksian and other thick-scaled pines require 

 a considerable amount of heat before they will open sufficiently 

 to permit the escape of the seed. The jack pine cones have to be 

 subjected to a heat of from 120° to 140° Far. for from two to 

 four hours, when the seed can be easily shaken out. 



There seems to be an increasing interest throughout Canada 

 and the United States in the matter of forest plantations* which 

 is bound to create a market in the near future for ,all classes of 

 seedling forest trees. There is no better source from which ? 

 supply of these seeds can be obtained than Canada. All the varie- 

 ties which are of most economic value are native here, and from 

 the geographical situation of the forests, Canadian seed shoivd 

 produce a much more desirable quality of stock than can be raised 

 from that collected farther south. 



It will without doubt pay our Canadian seedsmen to devote 

 some attention to this branch of the seed business, which if car- 

 ried on under a proper system, should develop very rapidly, es- 

 pecially in connection with supplying the demand in European 

 countries. 



This season an important extension is being made to the 

 work of the Forestry Branch, by commencing a systematic study 

 of the forests in the Dominion Forest Reserves. This summer 

 a field party, under the supervision of Mr. R. D. Craig, will be 

 at work in the Turtle Mountain Forest Reserve, and probably 

 later in the season in the Moose Mountain or Riding Alountain 

 Reserve. The object is to ascertain the extent of forested and 

 burned areas, the quantity of standing timber, and the silvicultural 

 characteristics of the various species of trees found there. This 

 latter will include a study of the rate of growth by stem analyses, 

 and a study of the reproduction under different conditions of soil, 

 exposure, seed trees. It is expected from the data collected to 

 be able toi establish regulations for cutting so that the forests may 

 be improved rather than destroyed by use. 



