NORTHERN INTERIOR FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT P R E L IMINARY INVESTIGATIONS 1924 P.M. B A R R FOREST SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL B R IT IS H C O L U M B I A FOREST SERVICE K'.INISTRY Or JOM aven u e m iN C E GEOR&E. B.C . V2L 3H » lUNlCATlOMS lO O N C S S eo DEPARTM ENT IN TO ACrCNKNeC TM« TO C H lC r rON CSTfW OF LANDS TO rO W CSTKN VICTORIA. B c... September..IQ, 1924*-..FOREST BRANCH *^e Chief Pbreeter, Tlotorie, B.C. S in I beg to submit herewith a b rief reoort o f the prelltBlnary Inrestlgatlone undertaken during the paet ffunraer In connection ?rith the eetabl 1ahmont o f the lorthem Interior Forest Srperlnent Station. has not been possible to loake a careful study any o f the problems which are outlined In this reoort and any sug^stlons made In connection with them are tentative In nature and subject to.change In the ligh t o f further study and experience. Junior Forester northern Interior Forest Experiment Station* KmsaiT lyrsRivi aatxart of Prallnlnanr InTaatlT^tlonf 1924 — P. M, Barr — 1, Work done during the summer o f 1924 a) Travel and reconnaissanoe h] Establishment o f o f f ! o ; Contact with op erators and Forest Branch s t a f f * d) Eeproduotive s t u d ie s . e) C o-op eration , l i t e r a t u r e and oorr 2* Forest o o n d itlo n s in the area a) ^rea included* b ) Forest types in the Northern I n t e r i o r . c ) B e s o r ip tio n o f types 1. Ooourrenoe and d i s t r i b u t i o n . 2* Species in mixture* 3* S oil 4. Ground oover and underbrush* 5 . Reproduction; s p e c i e s , age, ooourrenoe abundance• 6* Diseases and I n f e s t a t i o n s . hats o f growth. U t i l i z a t i o n , i t s e f f e c t s and waste* 9 . Futui e o f the type 10* Management f'' 3 . Work o f the S ta tio n . Organization, ( t ) . Experiment S ta tio n . b ; Aieza Lake Forest Reserve* 0 } Other areas. d) General (a ) Experiment Station* S e le o tlo n o f s i t e . Buildings and equipment. Personnel* Work to be undertaken. At the Station* l.Ie te o ro lo g y . 2 *Nursery work* 3«Seed t e s t i n g . 4 . Sowing and p la n tin g . 5 «Seedllni 2r establishment. 6 . S o i l examination. 7 « 0 f f l c e and Laboratory. 8 .E x o t ic s p e o ie s . In the f i e l d * l.U ia •r lb u t lo n o f s p e c ie s and typ 2 .^»rowth, volume and y i e l d 3 . Cutting methods. Thinnings 5 «-2*cology 6 .Primeval stand . S i t e s t u d ie s . A f f e c t o f s i t e on wood q u a l i t i 9 . Seed dissemination and g e rm ire tio n 1 0 .Fire resear Slash di sposal 1 2 .Cooperation with compani 13.Mehtods o f in c r e a s in g p r o d u c i v i t y . endrology 15«Pathology 1^ (b ) Aleza LakeinForeat Reserve Survey Map and cru ise cperimental cu ttin g ( c ) Other areas* _ Small reserves in other types f o r experimental c u ttin g Sample p l o t s . (d) General. o f workine- plans IfV ib lic ity and Educational* NORTHERN INTERIOR FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT (l) WORK DONE DURING My i n s t r u c t i o n e upon appointment were to spend the summer in the Northern I n t e r i o r , to become faraili with the f o r e s t c o n d itio n s and problems there, and to meet the Forest Branch s t a f f and the o p era tors in f o r e s t in dustries. All t h i s was to be done with a view to raak ing plans f o r the establishment o f a f o r e s t experiment s t a t io n in the d i s t r i c t . Through the a s s is ta n c e o f the D i s t r i c t Forester in Prince George, I secured an o f f i c e in the P r o v in c ia l Government Buildings there, which served as a convenient headquarters f o r the season. I t was not p o s s i b l e to examine the whole region in even gin extensive manner. The problems appeared to be most pressing In the v a lle y o f the Upper Fraser and most o f the season was spent th ere; short t r i p s were made In the watersheds o f the Nechako and Upper Skeena to observe the general nature o f the f o r e s t s . During the f i e l d t r i p s throughout the region , notes were taken o f the timber types encountered, and o f the s p e c i e s , reproduct­ i o n , underbrush, s o i l , ground cover, e t c . , in each type. z I met most o f the f i e l d men o f the Branch in the Fort George Forest D i s t r i c t , and several o f those in the parts o f the Prince Rupert and Cariboo D i a t r i c t s which w i l l eventually l i e within the J u r i s d i c t i o n o f the Northern I n t e r i o r S ta tio n . I spent several days in the woods with most o f the Rangers I met, in connection with t h e i r routine d u t ie s , and dlscusaed i n v e s t i g a t i v e work with them in a general way, securing t h e i r ob serv a tion s on the f o r e s t problems o f t h e i r own d i s t r i c t s , and noting t h e i r ocn clu slon s and advice. I a lso met most o f the mill-men In the Upper Fraser country, and discussed the establishment o f the Experiment Station with them. The a t t it u d e o f almost everyone in the d i s t r i c t i s very fa vora ble towards the s t a r t in g o f i n v e s t i g a t i v e work in the Northern I n t e r i o r . The opinions o f l o g g e r s , m ill men, s e t t l e r s , and f o r e s t o f f i c e r s are n a tu ra lly c o n f l i c t i n g in regard to d e t a i l s o f f o r e s t p o l i c y , but a l l agree that research work should be s t a r t e d , and an attempt made to deal with the problems o f re f o r e s t a t l o n and slash d i s p o s a l . Some preliminary reprodu ctive stu d ies were made. I t i s necessary to have some s t a t i s t i c a l data before d e f i n i t e co n clu sio n s can be drawn in regard to co n d itio n s in the f o r e s t , and a two-man party was organ ized to make counts o f the number o f t r e e s o f each speclee and o f a l l ages on re p re s e n ta tiv e p l o t s In the spruce stands o f the Upper Fraser. The work o f the party was c a r r ie d on in the woods near Gisoome, Hansard, Longworth, and Aleza Lake. A ccpy o f t h e i r i n s t r u c t i o n e , which eufnirarizes the d e t a i l s o f the work, with a summary o f the r e s u lt s ob ta in ed , i s included in the appendix to th is r e p o r t. Age counts were also made o f stumps o f mature spruce, and o f balsam and spruce reprodu ction , to secure data on age c l a s s e s , and in regard to the estab­ lishment, rate o f growth, and suppression o f the understory o f reproduction in the mature stand. In the work o f the S ta tio n , the study and c o r r e l a t i o n o f research l i t e r a t u r e w i l l play an important p a rt. A s t a r t was made t h i s Summer by g e t t i n g i n t o touch wi t h a number o f the more important sources o f p u b lic a t io n s which may be o f value. Contact was a lso e s ta b lis h e d with o th e r research o rg a n iz a tio n s and experiment s t a t i o n s . A l i s t o f the l i t e r a t u r e obtained and c o p ie s o f l e t t e r s received from o rg a n iz a tio n s o f f e r i n g to c o -o p e r a t e with the work o f the Northern I n t e r i o r Station are in clu d ed in the appendix. (2) ( a) FX)REST g;NDITIONS IN THE NORTHERN INTERIOR Area Included In Inve s t i g a t i o n s . The i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f the Northern I n t e r i o r Forest Experiment Station should cover the areas drained by: (1) The Fraser River above i t s con flu en ce with, and In clu d in g , the Quesnel R1ver. ( 2) The northern portion s o f the Canoe and North Thompson Rivers. (3) The Skeena above Hazel ton. Further examination may show the a d v i s a b i l i t y o f work on the Fraser below Quesnel, on the Skeena west o f Hazelton, and in the watershed o f the Peace River. In the meantime there i s an unlimited f i e l d o f research in the region o u t lin e d above, and the whole forme a f a i r l y d e f i n i t e unit from the point o f view o f f o r e s t types. Logging i s ca rrie d on west o f Hazelton, but the c o n d it io n s begin to be more t y p ic a l o f those o f the Coast. I t i s u n lik e ly that there w i l l be much u t i l i z a t i o n o f f o r e s t resou rces o f the Peace in the near fu tu r e . I t w i l l be unwise tc attempt to d efin e r i g i d boundaries f o r the area in which i n v e s t i g a t i o n vrill be c a r r ie d on. As problems a r i s e throughout the Northern I n t e r i o r , they should be examined by the D ir e c t o r o f the S tation , with regard to t h e i r r e l a t i v e importance and urgency, and passed on to the ce n tr a l Research Committee with recommendations f o r t h e i r i n c l u s i o n , o r otherw ise, in the work o f the Station as the program o f research i s b u i l t up and the various p r o j e c t s are undertaken and correlated. The success o f the Station w ill depend, not upon the extent o f the area covered, but upon the s e l e c t i o n o f problems which are o f fundamental Import ance. (b) FOREST TYPES IN THE NORTHERN INTERIOR The f i r s t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f the f o r e s t s o f the North i s , n a t u r a lly , i n t o • t y p e s .’' The accurate com p le tio n o f such a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w ill be one o f the f i r s t problems o f the Northern I n t e r i o r Forest Experiment S ta tion . The f o r e s t s contain a reasonably smal] number o f d e f i n i t e forme o f tr e e a s s o c i a t i o n s , which may be l i s t e d in order o f o ccu rren ce, as: Spruce Balsam.................... mainly in Upper Fraser. Lodgepole Pine ” • Nechako Old Cedar-Hemlock-Fir.. ” • Quesnel and Upper Fraser. Mixed mature Spru Hemlock-Flr-Balsamfound mainly in Quesnel and Cedar-Pine...........................Skeena. The f o ll o w i n g a s s o c i a t i o n s are found to a l e s s extent Muskeg Lodgepole Pine Type, in Upper Fraser. L.P. Pine-Spruce, in Nechako and Skeena. Spruce Type in the Nechako. Pure Balsam. Douglas F ir (second growth). Aspen and Cottonwood. r All these types may be found in each o f four o o n d itlo n s : 1) 2) 5j 4} Undisturbed green timber. Burned v irg in stands. Logged and unburned. Burned a f t e r lo g g in g . In attempting to c l a s s i f y the types o r tree a s s o c i a t i o n s found in the North, the problem must be regarded from two points o f view. We may use the nature o f the e x i s t i n g crop o f timber as a c r i t e r i o n o f type, and from i t s com position, by age c l a s s e s , and varying proportions o f d i f f e r e n t s p e c i e s , assign i t to i t s proper place in our system o f c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , o r we may analyze the environmental f a c t o r s o f the s i t e , temperature, m oisture, wind, s o i l , and l i g h t , and from a study o f these f a c t o r s and t h e i r e f f e c t upon the n a tiv e t r e e s p e c ie s . a r r iv e at the nature o f the f o r e s t which should be on the ground. We can c a l l t h is the permanent type; removed from the s i t e by a ccid en ts] i t may be causes, such as f i r e , i n s e c t i n f e s t a t i o n s , o r le g g in g , o r i t may be replaced by another type in the natural trend o f the l i f e o f the forest. In e i t h e r case the o r i g i n a l type may o r may not * fin d i t s way back again, n a t u r a lly , o r as the r e s u l t o f d istu rb in g f a c t o r s o f f i r e o r oth er damage. In our type c l a s s i f i c a t i o n then, we can, f o r any area, determine the permanent type o r the actual a s s o c ia t io n on the ground. For purposes o f f o r e s t re g u la tio n the l a t t e r i s the more important. The i n v e s t i g a t o r i s not concerned so much with what wil3 n a tu ra lly grow on the s i t e i f i t i s l e f t e n t i r e l y to the e f f e c t o f natural I n flu e n c e s . His problem i s to do the best he can with what he has, under e x i s t i n g c o n d it io n s . For in sta n ce , in the Upper Fraser, markets requ ire that Spruce should be removed and Balsam l e f t on the ground. Most o f the reproduction i s Balsam. Research has to d is c o v e r what i s the best thing to do with such c o n d it io n s , and how the next crop may contain as much Spruce as p o s s i b l e , and as l i t t l e Balsam. It is p o s s i b l e that the permanent type o f the area may have been n e it h e r Spruce nor Balsam. (o) D escription o -f . Types . 1. Spruce-Eal sam. This type i s widely d i s t r i b u t e d throughout the watersheds o f the Upper Fraser, the Nechako, and the Quesnel Rivers. I t reaches i t s t e s t development in the v a lle y o f the Fraser between Prince George and McBride where i t forms the most Important economic f o r e s t u n it in the Northern I n t e r i o r . The type reaches i t s b est development on the f l a t s and low benches along the r i v e r . % IT o re e x te n siv e stands o f l e s s volume per u n it area occupy the low h i l l s in the m .der parts o f the v a l l e y , and the lower slop es o f trib u ta ry streams. On the upper elopes and narrow s id e v a lle y s the q u a lity o f the type i s g re a tly i n f e r i o r to that found on the lower l e v e l s . good stands, not very la r g e in area, are found in the Some te e in e o f the Quesnel and the lower Nechako. The two p r in c ip a l s p e c ie s In the type are Spruce and Balsam (Abies l a s i o c a r p a ) . The Spruce in clu d e s three s p e c i e s , P. canadensis (P. g la u c a ), P. engelmannl, and to a l e s s extent P. marlana. The f i r s t two comprise p o s s ib ly n in e -te n th s o r more o f the s p e c i e s . The proportion o f the oth er two in the t o t a l has not been determined, and a study o f the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , h a b it, and occu rren ce o f the d i f f e r e n t sp eoies o f Spruce in the Northern I n t e r i o r should be made by the S ta tio n . There does not seem tc be any important d i f f e r e n c e in the q u a lity o f the wood o f the * , three, o r in the rate o f growth o r development o f the t r e e , but there may be important d i f f e r e n c e s in the s i l v i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f the s p e c i e s , which may be o f use in working out the s i l v i c u l t u r a l system which w i l l be p r a c tis e d in the area in the fu tu re . The ta b le s on Page S'S contain a summary o f the r e s u lt s obtained from a study o f age c l a s s e s in Spruce. \o The s p e c ie s in the type occu r in the fo llo w in g p ro p o rtio n s : Mature e ” DBH and over Spruce Balsam F ir Hemlock Cedar Poles 4" - 8 ” DBH Reproduction Under 4” DBH 32.8% 58.01 64.6 40.0 0.6 1.6 1.0 0 .0 1.0 0 .4 (P ro p o rtio n s by number o f tre e s ) Eased on counts on 07 p l o t s . 14.2% 81.4 0.1 0 .2 4.1 Scattered overmature Douglas F ir t r e e s are found throughout the type. These veterans are appar en tly the su rvivors o f an o l d e r stand in which there may have been a l a r g e r proportion o f f i r than i s present in the Spruce Balsam a s s o c ia t io n now on the ground. The lumber produced by these tre e s i s very d e f e c t i v e , and some o f the o p e ra to rs have discontinued taking out the sca tte red f i r along with the more valuable Spruce when they are lo g g in g the type. The tr e e s are mostly from 450 to 500 years o l d , and range from 30 inches upward in diameter. The Hemlock (T. h e te ro p h y lla ) and Cedar occu r as s ca tte re d stunted t r e e s . S o il The s o i l in t h i s area i s f a i r l y uniform in nature, f r e e from rock and g r a v e l; the main co n stitu en t may be sand, s i l t or c la y , but the former i s so f i n e as to grade in to s i l t , and the clay i s l i g h t , and usually contains some s i l t . These three c o n s titu e n t s are found in varying p ro p o rtio n s, but always forming a f a i r l y compact, f i n e , smooth mixture o f even c o l o r and con­ sistency, The l a y e r o f su rface humus i s t h in , ra rely more than four inches in depth and there i s a remarkable sharpness in the gradation from the la y e r o f vegetable matter to the pure rpineral s o i l , with a very small amount o f the l a t t e r stained by decaying humus. There i s almost a t o t a l absence o f an interm ediate stage between the vegetable and mineral s o i l s . The humus, although shallow. i s compact in nature, having the s u c c e s s iv e la y e r s o f le a v e s , twigs and moss packed t i g h t l y togeth er by the weight o f the snow during the Winter, and forming a c a r p e t - ] l k e cover on the s u b s o i l , i n t e r l a c e d by the ro o ts o f the underbrush and rep rod u ction . The s o i l f a c t o r i s one o f the most important in the l i f e o f t h is type. Before the natural l i f e h i s t o r y o f the type can be understood, the ch a ra cter o f the s o i l must be a ccu ra tely determined and the e f f e c t s o f i t s composition, temperature, m oisture, and s tru ctu re upon the s p e c ie s in the type must be i s o l a t e d . Ground Cover The underbrush and vegetation in the Spruce Balsam type i s d i f f i c u l t to understand. Under what are apparently I d e n t i c a l c o n d itio n s the nature o f the ground cover w i l l in c lu d e a wide range o f v a r i a t io n s . A dense growth o f d e v i l s c l u b and thlmbleberry w i l l change in a d ista n ce o f a few yards to an area having a t o t a l absence o f underbrush, with a l i g h t ground cover o f moss. There seems to be a d e l i c a t e balance in the f o r e s t community. and the nature o f the underbrush, as well as the repro duotion and mature timber, can be a f f e c t e d and perhaps t o t a l l y a lte r e d by a change in the r e l a t i v e value o f the e c o l o g i c a l f a c t o r s which i s im p e rce p tib le to the observer. There appear to be d e f i n i t e r e l a t i o n s between the nature o f the ground cover and the reprod u ction . For in s ta n ce . balsam reproduction i s very p l e n t i f u l i f d e v i l s c l u b i s absent, though i t i s not c l e a r which o f these i s the causal factor. Reproduc tion The reproduction e x i s t s in the fo llo w in g p ro p o rtio n s : j 14.2% j 81.4% 0.1% ) by numbers o f t r e e s . 0.2% 4.1% Spruce Balsam F ir Hemlock Cedar I t w i l l be seen that although the spruce predominates over the Balsam in the mature s i z e s , (see P.>^. .) (58% - 40%), there i s very l i t t l e o f t h is sp e cie s in the rep rod u ction . acre i s as f o l l o w s : The numbers o f tr e e s per Mature 6 4 .3 44.3 Spruce Balsam Poles 31.6 62.2 Reproduction 126.2 725.9 I t w i l l a lso be noted that even though the balsam pre dominates in the young understory, there i s s t i ] 3 i n s u f f i c i e n t reproduction to insure complete r e s to c k in g . Both the Spruce and Balsam are badly suppressed On Page^.K w i l l be found a summary o f the r e s u l t s o f the age counts o f reproduction o f both s p e c i e s . Few seedlin gs are found, the youngest specimens being from twenty to t h i r t y years o l d . not uniform. The occurrence o f the reproduction i s in Spruce i s found^scattered clumps where s o i l c o n d it io n s have apparently teen s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r the establishment o f the young s e e d lin g s , while Balsam occu rs more g en erally but i s extremely I r r e g u l a r in d e n s ity . The establishment o f the Spruce se e d lin g s seems to be prevented by several f a c t o r s . Of these, the dense la y e r o f humus on the su rface o f the mineral s o i l i s probably the most important. The i n a b i l i t y o f Spruce o f a l l s p e c ie s to reproduce s a t i s f a c t o r i l y in humus has been discussed by a number o f a u t h o r i t i e s , (See ’’ The Red Spruce, I t s Growth and Management,” L.S. Murphy, U.S.D.A Bui. 544: ” The Spruce and sam F ir .Trees o f the Rocky Mountain R egion,* Sudworth, U.S.D.A. Bui. 327; ” Forest Reseerch in Southern Appalachians,” Frotherlngham, Southern Lumberman, Dec. 1922; Bui. 5 5 ). ” Ealsam F i r , ” Zon, U.S.D.A Moisture i s e s s e n t ia l f o r Spruce s e e d lin g s . In the Spring o r Fall there w i l l be enough water in the humue to oause germination o f the eeeda, but during the Summer the la y e r o f vegetation w ill dry out under the in flu e n c e s o f wind, temperature and humidity, causing the young plants to d ie o f drought. Root development i s not as vigorous in Spruce as in Balsam, and the tough l a y e r o f moss, le a v e s . and needles on the su rfa ce o f the mineral s o i l prevents the r o o ts o f the young seed lin g from penetrating down to the mineral s o i l in search o f the necessary moisture when the upper m aterial has dried o u t. In the Fraser Spruce-Balsam type the tough humue l a y e r i s very wet in the Spring and a f f o r d s every opportunity f o r seed germination then, and to a l e e s extent in the’ F a l l . Evaporation o f su rfa ce moisture i s rapid in the early Summer and the l i t t e r i s q u ite dry a f t e r a few weeks. The seed wings o f the annual crop o f seed can be found in la r g e numbers in the humus under the mature Spruce stands, but when examined during the l a t t e r h a l f o f the Summer in 1924, the seeds themselves were missing in every in s t a n c e . Further study should determine the number and m o r t a lit y o f the Spruce germinates in the early Spring and during the F a l l , and what proportion o f them are l o s t through withering o f the germinates due to evaporation o f the su rfa ce m oisture, and through d e stru ct ion o f the seeds by b ir d s and rodents. For methods o f determining the damage to seeds by animal l i f e e , see ^The B i o t i c Factor in Forestry,*^ E.N. Munns, S c i e n t i f i c Monthly, Vol X V lll. March 1924. The c o n d it io n s o f s o i l moisture a ls o d eter mine the success o f the establishment o f Spruce se e d lin g s in mineral s o i l . I f the su rfa ce evaporation i s too rapid the reproduction w i l l be prevented as in the case o f the tough l a y e r o f humus. Where the mineral s o i l has been exposed, the Spruce se e d lin g s come in s a t i s f a c t o r i l y i f a l i g h t ground cover o f d e b r is , v e g e ta tio n , o r l i t t e r has been b u i l t up to prevent too rapid drying out o f the surface under the action o f the sun and wind. Thiafcan be r e a d ily seen edong the cutbanks on the railways and wagon roads. Where a la r g e expanse o f s o i l has been exposed, the drying a ction o f the atmosphere i s very complete during the Summer, and in the neighborhood o f mature Spruce, with i d e a l seeding c o n d it io n s , there w i l l be a complete absence o f s e e d lin g s . Where, however, a smaller area o f s o i l has been uncovered, and i t i s shaded by nearby tre e s o r v e g e ta tio n , and a l i g h t covering o f slash and l i t t e r has been p r o t e c t in g i t from sun and wind, a dense crop o f young s e e d lin g s comes i n , with fresh a d d itio n s each year. Such a group o f s e e d lin g s i s i l l u s t r a t e d in Photograph No.. the Balsam a lso comes i n . ; Under such c o n d itio n s Examination o f reproduction on excavations along the Canadian National Railway showed that where the nearby timber was the undisturbed natural Spruce-Balsam mixture there were more Spruce than Balsam among the s e e d lin g s . Where log g in g had taken p la ce and most o r a l l o f the Spruce removed from the stand, almost a l l o f the young s t u f f on the cutbank was Balsam. In both cases the ro o t development o f the Balsam was much more vigorous than that o f the Spruce. A number o f Spruce and Balsam se e d lin g s were taken up during the past season to secure data on r o o t development, but the r o o ts became so b r i t t l e a f t e r drying that accurate measurements o f t h e i r length could not be made. With th is experience as a guide, i t i s hoped that the required data can be secured next year. I t w i l l be necessary to measure the length o f the seed lin g r o o t s as the plants are taken from the ground, rather than to keep the c o l l e c t e d specimens f o r examination in the la b o r a t o r y . I t would appear, however, that given exposed mineral s o i l which has been deeply s t i r r e d up, and Spruce seed tre e s within a maximum d ista n ce which must be determined, that Spruce i s l i k e l y to seed in s a t i s f a c t o r i l y in any case, and w i l l probably produce a good crop, with Spruce predominating, even when there i s seeding competition by surrounding Balsam seed t r e e s . I t remains to be determined i f Spruce w i l l seed in from seed t r e e s on exposed mineral s o i l on the su rfa ce . rather than that which has been s t i r r e d up, o r uncovered at some d ista n ce below the su rfa ce , as i s the case in the excavation o f redlway c u ts . Where the Spruce-Balsam type has been completely burned, and the mineral s o l] exposed by the f i r e no see d lin g s come in as the r e s u lt o f seeding by healthy tr e e s in nearby unburned stands. There may be two reasons f o r t h i s . The evaporation may have been so great from the su rfa ce in the early Summer that the germinates have been k i l l e d by drought, and the dense crop o f vegetation which has follow ed has prevented the establishment o f s e e d lin g s during the fo l]o w in g y ea rs, when the shade o f the ground cover has produced fa v o ra b le moisture c o n d it io n s f o r germination and s u r v iv a l. Or again, the o r i g i n a l pure crop o f Spruce, mixed with a younger crop o f Balsam, may have rendered the s o i l unsuitable f o r a l a t e r crop o f Spruce. For a b r i e f d iscu ssio n o f the e f f e c t o f s u c c e s s iv e crops o f Spruce on f o r e s t s o i l , ^Forest U t i l i z a t i o n in Europe,’’ Schenck, 1S24. see Re­ fe r r in g to c o n d it io n s in Saxony, Dr. Schenck s a y s ; - ” The s o i l i s s ick . Two f o r e s t generations o f spruce have destroyed i t s fecundity. I t has l o s t i t s p o ro s ity , hydro scope c i t y , and microsmic content. The rota tion s o f pure spruce have reduced the s iz e o f the pores in the s o i l . Small pores conduct water but not a i r , which i s most important f o r microsmic and b a cte ria l l i f e . Experiments have shown that c le a r cutting has reduced by two thirds the a ir capacity o f the f o r e s t s o i l and has seriou sly disturbed i t s water permeability. S o il l i v e s , breathes, and undergoes continuous changes. S o il q u a lity i s not permanent. unaltered, always normal. Each tr e e depends s y m b io t lc a lly on i t s a s s o c ia t e s and the subeurface l i f e o f the s o i l . American f o r e s t e r s should avoid: 1. 2. 3. 4. Clear c u t t in g . Destruction o f d eb ris and su rface l i t t e r . Exposure to f u l l overhead l i g h t . A r t i f i c i a l c u l t i v a t i o n o f any s p e c ie s beyond i t s natural h a b ita t. 5. Pure p la n ta tion s and short r o t a t i o n s . ’’ Whether o r not such f a c t o r s as are o u tlin e d above are r e s p o n s ib le f o r the absence o f Spruce repro duction in burned ov er f o r e s t len d, as well as in green timber, i s p rob lem a tica l. Balsam does not come in a f t e r a f i r e in the Spruce-Balsam mixture, even i f seed tr e e s are at hand, so i t would appear that the c o n d itio n s fo llo w in g a bum cannot be regarded as an i n d i c a t i o n o f the e f f e c t o f a pure Spruce stand on the f o r e s t s o i l . I i s c l e a r , however, that Balsam i s favored in green timber and i t i s not l i k e l y that the exact r e l a t i v e I n flu e n c e s o f the casual f a c t o r s can be found out except by c a r e f u l , and comprehensive experiments in the area, with a background o f the experience which has been gained by experimenters with Spruce in oth er re g io n s. An I n t e r e s t in g case o f Spruce reproduction was noted near S h elle y . A small cle a rin g had been made during con stru ction days (1911-1913) in a t y p i c a l Spruce-Balsam stand and the slash had teen subsequently burned. A p l e n t i f u l supply o f seed tr e e s e x is te d in the surround ing timber, but the burned over s o i l came up in a dense growth o f fireweed and o th e r v e g e ta tio n , with a complete absence o f c o n ife r o u s reprodu ction. A small cabin was constructed in the c l e a r i n g , and about a f o o t o f fresh mineral s o i l thrown upon the shake r o o f to provide a waterproof co v e rin g . At the time o f examination in 1924 there was a dense growth o f Spruce and Balsam s e e d lin g s , with the former predominating num erically, in the s o i l on the r o o f o f the cabin. Unfortunately, t h i s i n t e r e s t i n g example o f natural reproduction was destroyed by a slash f i r e in June o f t h i s year, Another case was noted on the Cottonwood River. Debris had blocked up a small channel in the r i v e r . changing the course o f the water and exposing a bar o f s o i l composed o f sand and f i n e s i l t . There were some mature Spruce nearby, and a dense growth o f young Spru seed lin gs had come in on the bar. A th ird in s ta n ce i s shown in Photographs Nos.J^ a n d .^ . pf Just south o f Prince George, on the South Fort George Road, part o f the o r i g i n a l Spruce-Balsam was burned, p o s s ib ly f i f t e e n o r twenty years ago. A good supply o f Spruce seed t r e e s e x i s t s in a s t r i p o f green timber b esid e the burned area. Following the f i r e no reproduction came i n , but a f t e r some years a s c a tte r e d growth o f Aspen spread ov er the old bum , supplanting the heavy growth o f vegetation which sprang up a f t e r the f i r e In the shade o f t h i s Aspen, the Spruce s e e d lin g s are getting a fo o th o ld and the area should eventually find i t s way back to pure Spruce, i f not damaged by f i r e , and I f the marginal mature Spruce i s retained to supply seed. Diseases and I t was not p o s s i b l e during the past season to p le t e an accurate study o f the con d ition o f the timber in th is type. In general the Spruce i s sound and the Balsam i s rotten o r s u f f e r i n g from i n c i p i e n t decay. Com prehensive s tu d ie s w i l l be necessary to determine the extent o f d e fe c t in both s p e c i e s . o f in sect in fe sta tio n s. Both are almost fr e e The p r in c ip a l d e f e c t in the Balsam i s the Indian Paint F^Jngus f Echinodontium t in o t o r iu m ) . Fomes p i n i c o l a and a ro o t rot which has not been I d e n t i f i e d appear to be the c h i e f enemies o f the Spruce. A collection o f f r u i t i n g b od ies found in the area was c o l l e c t e d with the a s s is ta n ce o f Compassraan R.G. McKee o f the McKinley c r u is in g party and forwarded to the Department o f Botany o f the U niversity o f B r i t i s h Columbia f o r fu rth er and more accur ate i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . Some s l i g h t damage has been done to Balsam and Spruce reproduction, c h i e f l y the former, by an i n s e c t v/hich appears to devour the lea v es on the terminal twigs s h o r tly a f t e r they open out in the Spring. H4 te o f Growth. During the past season notes were taken o f the ages and diameters o f some 488 mature spruce t r e e s in r e p r e s e n t a t iv e stands o f the Bpruoe-Ralsam type, Studies were edso made o f the ra te o f growth o f balSGUo and spruoe mature stand. under the The r e s u l t s o f t h i s work are summarized in the ta b les on page U til iz lotion. The lumbering industry in the Spruce-Balsam stands o f the Upper Fpaser i s developing r a p id ly , and Is l i k e l y to ontinie to do so. Conditions o f u tiliz a tio n are very en s iv e ; the lumber produced i s sold in the East in com p etition with that from re g io n s situ a ted nearer to the markets o f the A-tlFntio seaboard, and it he small margin o f p r o f i t with even a favorable p r i c e f o r c e s the operator to take the b est timber and leave the r e s t i r the woods. As a r e s u l t the stands are being vreoked without regard to measures w hichw ill insure a second orop, and care Is not taken to even remove the pre one with any degree o f thorou) The Aleza Lake Forest Keserre should be developed for the purpose o f experiment s ilv ic u ltu r a l ings and other large scale experiment6 ( o ) . Further areas should bs set aside for cutting and other er-orimental purooees in the various types in the region as the need a rises. The three phases of the work of the Station dealt wi «• V (a ). in more d eta il in i l l be llowing pages riment Station. Th same factors affecting the selection of a s ite for a forest experiment etation whioh were discussed by ; Ur lexande in oonneotion with the southern Coast iiorperlment Station anplj to Int I'h th eeleotion of a site in the Northern station should be centrally located, with refer enoe to forest types and areas, in the f i r s t plaoe, to a le A extent. ith referenc to the development o f the stry and the looatl in the i>istrictl of the o f f i It should be ac be su itable, and well drained. protection olimatio oo ainat fi of the Forest Branch ible The s o il should There should be adequate and the possible e ffe c t s of th local ions should be carefully studied to minimize the danger from f r o s t . In regard to bulldlnge. i t is suggsstsd that the Station should inolnde a dwelling house which would lahoratozy. with a greenhouse attached. and quarters kmen ooul In an o ffic e and A tool shed, garag be added as required. It is lik e ly that at le a st one pennanent aselstant w ill be needed from the beginning to take charge of small fie ld parties during the summer and to aeelst in the work o f the station durir^ the winter or to conduct o o .t stu d ie. and other fie ld work then. It w ill he under stood that th . above « g g .s t i o n s are merely preliminazy in nature. ^ in g th . l « „ . d l . t . future th . present o ffic e in.Prinoe George wl serve as the best headquarters for the r Station, and a more permanent inetltution can be e .t.b lle b e d la te r * e n the needs o f the work are better understood «zd information has been e.oured of the best praoti J. Whioh le being folio-wd in older, more ex-erl.noed organ- Ih . inveatlgatlone whioh w ill oom. under the work of the •xperlm«it atatlon oan be divided into ( a ) . , those whioh w ill be carried on in the central station , and ( h ) . . those whioh must be oa.ried out in th . f i e l d . These w ill be d.sorlbed b r ie fly In ordez (a) «ork to be undertaken at the ^Station. !• Meteorologr. It w ill he in this connection that the beet information oan be secured about environmental conditions of climate. Data o f air teri^atures. annual and seasonal means, fr o s ts , precipitation. hzunidity. and wind oan be aeoursd co-operation should be worked up ItB existing stations in other parts of the region, 2. Ifursery work. This should be undertaken to secure rna tion in regard to a r t i f i c i a l planting, raoe experiments, exotlo species and other work in which i t w in be necessary to observe oare- m i y the e ffe c t c f s e l l , l i g h t , temperature, and moisture on «* grwwlng seedlings. TranT>lants and nursery stock can also be grown for various purposes as required. .^led testing and germ in ation . Seeds from various species, s it e s , and fferaat age classes o f each soeoles oiost be tested for r l a b l l l t y and q u a lities o f durability under different conditions of moisture and temperature. ''.rmlnatlon t sts should be made o f a l l classes of seed to determine t h . r a t . of amnlnation at different seasons and under different 4. environmental conditions. Sowing and I f a r t l f i c M reforestation is eventually necessary in any part of the region i t w ill f i r s t be ry to find out how the sowing or planting can be done in the most e ffic ie n t and economtol manner. This can only be determined by comprehensive experiments both in the f i e ld and under the more accurate condj tions of th experiment station. 5* / I Bstablishment of Seedlings. 5. f o f Seedlings. This work w in be of special Importanoe In the study of the spn.oe type. B.ds should be prepared where seeds o f various spsclss may be eowed in a variety of s o i l s under a l l conditions of shade, moisture, and temperature, and the growth, mortality, water emsn root development and other oharaoterletlos of the seedlings may be studied, 6. Soil examination and t e s t s , Ihe Importano, of a study o f the s o il m each o f the timber types has already been referred to. best be done Part o f th is work oan under laboratory and nursery conditions. the Porest Branch The work < f agronomist w ill be correlated with that o f the B*perlm«,t B u tlo n . and overlapping avoided, but certain work o f the examination of the fo re st s o i l , o f the region, can be undertaken by the Station to good advantage. have been b- rn.d .hould be teat.d for their s u ita b ility for seedling growth and compared with natural unbnrned s o i l . should be undertaken to ermine the comparative growth of seedlings in the various combinations 7* Other exnerlments of sand, s i l t , lay ^ f f l o e and Laboratory, The study of research lite r a tu r e , and the correlation o f the resu lts ssoured by important part o f th. * r k . othsr research organisations w ill be Reports r t l l have to be an prepjired, andae th, work progresses b n l l .t l n s may be Issued for various purposes. I«.boratory work w in in clu ds ths study of oolleoted specimens, experiments In wood tsohnology. and physiological Investigations -Mfttt- liL the I'l el*, ^ ^ «* iy | !• Distribution of spsoles and types^ .1 Y This study w ill be the most important projeot to be undertaken in the near future lEiioh w ill include the whole area ooTered by the Stations. The nature of the forests must be und stood before their problems oan be solved, ooourrenoe of eaoh ihe distribution and tgpe weAweE should f i r s t be determined, and then for eaoh type a l i f e history past might be knoxi and a should be b u ilt up. so that i t s prediotlon of i t s future made posslbl A ls o ,— and included in this study— the nature of the permanent type of eaoh area (hfinite type should be deterTlned. i f a single can permanently exist on i t . Combined with this study of typ distribution^ data should be seoured dealing with the dit trlbution of eaoh speoies. 2* Oroirth. volume, and y ie ld . These etudiee w ill furnish management, and legulation. mination of types and 5* ihey basio material for mensurationf must be preoeded by the deter­ site s. Cutting methods. ^he cutting methods w ill be the applioation o f the theories developed by investigation and experiment. method When the best for the type under coraIderatlon has been developed on paper it shouliybe tried out in the woods, and i t s applioation and e e ffe ct carefully observed . ih ls should for permanent sxperlmental pErposes. be done in an area asE igned Such a praotlcal, largo scale experiment w ill show the e ffe c t of each cutting a le Reproduction and reforestation : Slash disposal. method o n :- in these experimental cuttings each system should be carried on under a variety o f seasonal conditions and logging methods. A permanent eerie of ^■^*Ations would serve to note the e ffe c ts o f the cu ttin gs. ih e Al Lake xoreet keserve w ill serve as an admirabl area for experiments in ing methods in the hpruo am stand o f the ^ in other type hxpe rlmente and as policy d ictates. lid al be oarri out n cooperation with lumber (Continued on n-xt page.) IT f \ \ I *V * . -f t i e , and pulp oompanles* 1J « I ^• _Tliilllilngs, r i • t I • l^e •oonomios o f thinnings, and their effect on the remaining stand, should be studied. a few years It may be profltat to take thinnings from some of the Lodgepole Pine stands on Meohako. etande would Improve the quality TUlnnlngs In other fin a l produot, but the of th . w ill not be eoonomloally possible for some yeara •m. time for the making of auoh thinnings should be determined. zoology, "^he study of the effaota of in almost .vary p h . . . of the d l.tp lb u tlon o f types, work; eoologloal faotors a ffso t and the h l.to r y : such a change as t h . replacement o f a i>ougUs / I r stand lock is due entirely th . ohang.s In t h . l r oompoeltlon during th . natural tr«td of t h . l r l i f e natural environment w ill be neoeesary by on. o f O.dar and Hem­ to environmental factors. Hvery forest;,under natural condition* Is suffering a oonatant breaking down, and building up of Its oonstltusnts. and th . trend of xh. r a t . of ohang. the evolution of new oharaot.rlatios oan be understood only in the light of ecology. _ l ? i a f T a l iitande* "here a forest has been destroyed by acoidental baa been replaced by an entirely different aooldant.- which may hav, b.sn a f ir e type as a ana. and esult o f the or an Insect epldemlo-the natur of this sooalled permanent type must be learned by the Investigator before he oan find out t t a t advantage, sprue w ill grow on the area to the best ultimate ror Instance a f i r . stand may oooupy an area whioh destroyed by f i r e . boro ihe intolerant fir e cannot readily reprodnoe a a tlsfa o to rlly and It *galn, and seours Under euoh J a better yield from i t . with elmpler management oondltlone the determination of primeval forest 7* might be baat to bring In tha spruoe opens u-> the solution o f the nature o f the the problem. Site studieBe A system o f s it e olass4fioation should be worked out, in oonneotion with the delineation o f types, ^hen for each s ite oharaoter c is t io s of composition, reproduotion, and wood q u alities should be I determined 8. Seed dissemination and germination. Part o f these studies should be carried on in the Id. in oonjunotlon with other phases, of inrestigatlon of the same subject whioh oan be better handled in the laboratory and nursery a ’I'he studies should include: (a) Production, dissemination and naturaly storage of seed. (b) hates of mortality and germination^. (o) ^he e ffe c ts o f the source of the seed. (Overhead stands, see* trees and margiTMl timber), upon production, and seminat (d) oeed in the forest flo o r . (e ) ‘’‘he ooourrenoe of seed years, i s t i o s . for eaoh speoi and the seeding character ( f ) heed geimination. x a c t o r s :- ( l ) Light-(Toleranoe)jiiioi3 ture requirements. 3 o ll:^ “ ' Composition )> Humus oover J>oll h lstoiy •) ^ (g) -needling establishment. /a c to r s : Light and moisture Soil and kuania. Aoot devalopmant. I auppraaalva Influtnoas Blotio factor. 9* fira ktaaaroh. hla can ba slash disposal, o o p r.la tM , 1 th th , work In m .t.rolo«y vira conditions In the tudy can b. nndartak.n by north raqnira e tudy. and 8u< th . -ta tlo n to good advantage. with tha growth of th rganliatlon on* o f the f i r s t additions to the personnal should ba a mnA 0. a rira and alaah dlaposal ep eo la lla t. 10. -31aah_ disposal. xhla 1. alrsHdy a big c o n s tltu t. on, of th . « .r in .very ty p .: u t l l l .a t l o n probl*. «,d Ita study , 1 1 1 always major r r o j . o t . of th . Stations. th . p r o b l « should b . IS most . i t s n s l v . . have to b. oh.ap. a.ourlng good xh, b .s t ^ondl f i r s t ta.klsd wher. method of disposal w ill naw r.produotlon. and not th . advano. growth, with prot.otion from f i r , and insaots. •uoh a mathod o », b . d .v .lo p .d for any ty p ., aaoh nra^t b« studied. m th is , as in a l l the Investigator w ill hav. to tra o . down .aoh o f injuring uafor. of thsa. factors work of the station the the many forces whloh hold th . forest t a lly on one ohain s tr ip s , five ohalne apart. he t a llie d having a dlamet.r at br.aet height of A ll tre or more should Upon oon.pl.tlon of th . Burv.y o f 1h . ayet«n ehould be worked out. n .a .r v . an nd.quate protection with any improTameilB whloh may ba neoeesarj (o) Other areas. As the research program is ar.ae should oould in itiated on them on a cutting «Ball nureerl.a and planting axperlmente. permwient. w ill b . naoaaaaiy p.rwanent baela. similar ba a .t aalde: amaller ar.as (4) ental b. aal.otad in t h . Lodg.pola Pin. and other type inreetlgatlone experinental developed and JS'OT to that at A leza ^ ak oould be u t l l i e .d for fie ld Sample plota. temporary and in almost araiy phas. o f InTsstlgatlon. General. A ll th of the Axperlmmit station w ill be on with th . d .f l n l t e aim o f building up working p lar. am developing • policy Of f o r .a t managamant. and regulation In each major *h# projects asslgnsd to dhould be s .l .o t e d arri typa th . Investigators by th . H.s.aroh Ooranltt.e with that and in vlaw. and t h . o o rr.la tlo n of Tarious phaea. o f th . * .r k must be p r . f . o t l y overdetelopmant in one branch of b a l«io .d . without undue invaetlgation. and a laok o f Infor- matlon in another. Wi.n tha bast plan o f regulation has been worked out i t cannot b. applied, to th . public aantimant. praotloe, the a favorabl. whlls plans a r . b.ing made to apply better forest ground should ba preparad sentiment in th. region. p dbllolty. beat advantag.. unless th sr . is oonservatlon by fostering a forest xh. «>rk o f the Station should be and protection should be bro;ght home to the people who should be g be interested in the fo r e s ts . during the winter months No opportunity should to inorsass, the publloity of the Branch in the press, and the oommunlty It I ik # 4 T< Leottires l i f e of the d i s t r i c t . b oould lo st the sohools, SUMMARY OF TREE COUNTS REPXLUCTIVE PLOTS Spruce Balsam Type In Upper Fraser Valley. (1) Green Timber. Spruce fialsnm nr Hsoilook Ceder ( 2) Number o f p lo ts .................. 87. Mature Poles fl4.5 44.3 1.8 0 0 .5 51.6 62.2 Logged over areas. 126.2 726.9 0 .5 2.0 37.7 0.6 1.0 1.0 Number o f p lo ts 7 .5 50.4 0 .9 0.0 0.2 70. ore. Mature Spruce Balsam Fir Hemlock Cedar Acre 20.9 36.5 0.1 0 .2 0.0 37.9 294.5 0.8 0.2 1.8 Decrease In trees per acre a fter loggl Spruce Balsam n r Hemlock Cedar Mature Poles Qciu ctlo n 8 8 .4 31.4 33.8 43.2 70.0 59.3 Numbers In su ffic ie n t to give accurate values. NORTHERN IIH'SRIOR FOREST SX?ERn,:Zi:T STATION Heproduotlva Studies. iM truoU ons in Tallying Preliminaiy Plots 4 . I Th# purpos. o f making these reproduotive studies la tn purpose small plots should be seleoted in und lsxT iF u od n stn rB i s p m o o st& ndfi should be measured by height e o r . .o r e . 7-hen .;“ a plot has beer And ir\ ^ in f o u r ° ° L o t “heleht **>U8 containing »v. . ounne-iirin e -fifth of or ar «<^eol tape trees should be etr.tShed o-® in^^ stra?eM i^n measured and t a llie d which l i # w i t h i n . n , K t t a p e .^ ! B iu m o ;e % ? fo ^ n « f must be regarded a f t m S a i t nmst be used frequently or L i : t ™asured by a diameter ev^?^pi™."*® ™«'‘ ’ ^rement. and P la ln i^ S r k ? d ^ o n * * r t M e o ? ' i ? ” l ^ a f S *h* below stumu height iJa%S f l» a s t eight blazes must be^arked on t L b a c ^ o f ^ e the distance of the olot from t R i ^ f »>® Inohes in diamater, ? e n " o h a ? n s 'o T ^ “ t t : 'J , * i '''? i t is not neoeesary that position o H ^ T I p J e p l o t s ! sheet, and also l n t e r ? a ; s ” : i " ? r l m ’ f o u r % o ^ ^ ° '® lo 8S«d over areas Identify the • V V A number of photographs of the plots should b secured. I f a lookout is kept for lik e ly scenes. specially in logged over country, good piotur can be taken now and then. Take the picture from a point between your obj and the sun fro II which you have an uninterrupted view of the area. A l i t t l e work in clearing away the ui^ in front o f the camera w ill greatly improve the photocrraph ^emember these p o in ts :-*^e sure you have th right species. Don measure anything outside the 8 foot mark Us th Biltmore stick with oar Stand properly wh ng the compass. Ally every tree, but none o f them twice. A number of these d etails are covered in "Instructions for Intensive ^eoonnaissanoe." This book was written for cruising ^OTk., but i t should be read and studied. Rule up your sheets the night before. Keep good notes Remember that your notes represent a _ large ___ amount of money, and they must on no account be lo st or m islaid. You are expected to be on the Job from eight t i l l five with an hour of^ for lunch, and i t Is up to you to see that this uart of your job is carried out. i f you get into d i f f i c u l t i e s write or wire at once and you w ill be given every assistance. (Sgd.) P.ll,Barr Junior Forester. F ra Plof rieI Ziffhoii 0/ Zf0Y/l:tn^ NORl'HERlf AK JTUxiJsox KZPSKiMENT 3TATI0IT HEPRC 3TIVE STLDIES -1924. A check-up o f the sheets which have been handed in to date shows that improvement in methods can be made i ^ a number o f ays In the fu tu r. attention should be paid l o The 1. ^ a sheets should be ruled oroperly. I f this is done the t a l l y l ^ and oompllatlon of dots is lik e ly to be more aoour 2. The timber type must always be indloated, in both green md logged over timber. I’he types we have encountered to date ar. t h . Spmo.-oalsam, the Plr Kidge, and the Uedar. J. M l oompllations nmet be oheoked by a second man and must be in itia le d by him. 4. Measure th# humus depth carefu lly, and describe vhat the humus ia composed of 5. I f spruoe reproduotlon le p le n tifu l, try to find out the rea on why 6. i>o not oount dots whioh have been oanoelled by having a iro le drawn around them. 7. ibe location o f lo^?'#d over plots must be indioated. as. for instanos. "in logging o f 1923-24 on south side of U.N.R. opposite Johnson M ill. Hansard 8 mien a d d l^ ur. the dote on the t a l l y eheet, i f there Is a total the dots on one line at a time, then total these figures to obtain the total for the c la s s. This w ill eliminate errors in counting larffe numbers of dots. ^ I (Sgd.) P.H*Barr 18,1924. y * .• ‘y f T t NOTE OH ACTS CUHTO Dlkneter (Jrowth o f Spruce# In tooxurlnr t ie data for ciirrc the rinrs were counted on atuapa o f anture apruce In logsing operation* Oounta wero oade In aeweral areat and In general the fbands were found to be roughly evenaged In each case and trees o ‘ •aae age covered a wide range o f diameters rate o f growth seems to depend more on environaental conditions whioh i suppression rather than on age. Idle height o f the ftux varied from two to ^our feet and to secure an accurate curve age o f each shoxild be corrected for the time required to grow to stump ^ " ^ s data Should be secured from counts o f spruce reprodw tion in a young stand free from suppression, as there does not appear to have been any suppression o f ttw present rmture spruce stand In Its early youth. Height growth o f Spruce anl Balsan Reproduction. These curves Illustrate the suppressed condition reproduction under the cover nature tree* in the Spruoe-Balsam IVpe n Vfpper FVaser. There Tailsy i f very l i t t l e difference in the height growth the two species. W^irther studies should be undertaken to Shovr rate of growth the two species after release from supp ression. In asking the counts the young trees were cut at height o f ^elve Inches • A correction should be made for the time req;uired for ruppressed seedlings to grow to this height % lO e &•«/< • ✓ N*>«f Trrcs C o r V €.<1 r I AG E T I PSH. no 5 -^ 1 I9L0 13-0 i 1^0 16.5 I II V /\ ► i^ o ; 19.9 i5c>i Z3*3 i v6 o| a ^.7 \1o\I 3ft.1 I •i \8 I I I l^ ci vf-o I I Itfl ✓ ✓ < ■ 15 / / 4 2A IPRnisaR nrmiOR sjcrsRircs:! statiqe 1 .9 X 4 4 z' «) Vi I JiAaeter Growth o f Ifatiire e9 VTxjce Spruoe-Br1Ban Type Upper Traier R lfer I 4i a r » Tentative Carve Beeed on CotmtB tmde on Sbonp* o f Varying Heights. AW I la I / c 10 t / 17 f / I) J '1 .d d / H*. 4-e3 At 149.-7 / ai-3 1 \ 10 r| Te?«' Av. Av A^c I rr Tf«r & I / / 160 m Yeans KfO ISO I 17 Rat\% No TV» I t6 3 • 0 e / 15 3 I % I T fi U 13 2 A « \ 12 10 7 FORmStC* 10 INTERIOR IBS322. 8 3TATIQK 1?24 20 / ! I R 2T 7 23 6 16 5 «T IIel£:ht Growth of Spruce Reproduction in ifeture Spruce-Rnlsara lype. .V \ « I « i I 4 II 5 ACS HSPRODUCTIO e■ i III YEARS i « i, o 2 T. o I $ S ! \% O 9 iO II rf d noRTHEgn I MT6RI0R rO R C^T E X P E R in ertT STATIOn I 6 •J Wei^kt Gre^jtVv Ro^*'®doct i»ws [.« m i 3t llTr •■ 0 i. 6 • 24 A \ IC S ’vk 13 0 « I IO I A ✓ « 3 *r O ✓ 2 4- 0 1 I I f 10 20 A3 of Re |>ro d o ct"i 6n »H Y'ca.r'i F6aUawN €, HOHTHERN IITTERIOR PIREST SI.ERIMENT STATION D lte ra tn re d e a lin g w ith F orest Reseeurch and Experiment S t a t io n IprlL ro<5«ived during 1924 S e le o tlT e Locging in Prince Oeorge D i s t r i o t Jenkins 1925 P.B. C ir . A 55 Sample P lo t s Growth and R eproductive Studies in I n t e r i o r Wet B elt Bevan I 919 Bangers’ Management 4^eports 1922 Seeding C h a r a o t e r is t io s P rin ce Rupert Dis t r i c t P.B. P i l e 0 I 6IIO 1923 Program o f Work. D .S .P .S , Experiment S t a t io n s . F orest P r o t e c t io n in Car a.:a I 9I 2 m Comm, o f Con. 1 9 1 2 -13 D iseases o f the F orest Boyce Minimum Requirements; Douglas f i r Typ Munger F o re sts o f B.C. Vihitford and Craig F orests o f B.C. Imp. F o re stry C onference. 1922 1924 d . f . b . 1923 F orests o f Canada Report 1923 1920 D.F.B. Canadian Pulp and Paper In du stry. Handbook. Work o f Tree P lan tin g D i v i s i o n . D.F.B D .f . b . 1922 P r l a r ie Tree P lanting Report o f Royal fo n m isslo n o f In qu iry. A r t l f i o l a l ^ g e n e ra tio n . Workkig Plan Surveys. 1920 1923 1910 D.F.B. D .F.B. Thinnings in Hardwood Stands. D.F.B. Number o f P lo t s necessary to o b ta in an average S t a t i s t i c a l Methods in I n v e s t ig a t io n . Natutal R ep rod u ction on C ut-over areas F orest I n v e s t ig a t iv e Work. D.F.B, Wright D.F.B D. f . b . Raganeration of Southern .Vhite Cedar. Research in Appalachians. Frotheringham. Forest ^Ire Weather in Appalachians. ooum.nta I l l u s t r a t e d C a n . d ia n F o r e s t and Outdoo Jo u rn a l o f fo r e s t r y , krom J a n u a ry 1 9 2 3 . ^ P e rlo d io a ls a s p i r e / o r e s t r y . from V o lu a . 1, Ho. 1, M a rch . 1 9 2 2 ^ How the P n b l l o P o r e s t s a r e H a n d le d . Smith 1920 I n v a s t i g a t i o n s o f o o t t l n s o f S la a h . U .S . B u l. P o r s s t N u r s e r l s s f o r S o h o o ls . U .S .D .A . f a r . S t a t e P o r e s t i y Laws o f 1 9 2 1 . Balsam F i r . U .S .D .A , B u l R o o s . T s l t W ild I l f . U .S .D .A . B u l. 423 C ir. 239 55 B u lle t in . R e p o rt o f Pnlpwood U om m lsslon. V o l. 1 . No. 2. 1922 Ottawa. 496 J i l y I9 2 4 u n it e d S t a t e s Departm ent o f A g r i c u l t u r e F o re st S e rv ic e Was h i F o r e s t E x p e rim e n t i i t a t i o n s . to n 1924. Mr. P.M. P a r r , J r . F o r e s t e r , ■department o f Lands, P r i n c e G eorge, B. C I I De -r Mr. P a r r : I am v e r y g la d in d e e d to have y o u r l e t t e r o f June o s t a h lis h m e n t o f an ExperinD n t s t a t i o n i n ^ r i t i s h C o lu m b ia , and 1 am c e r t a i n t h a t o u r own o r g a n i z a t i o n a s s i s t a n c e to you, a t any tim e . i J \ I am s e n d in g you a copy o f t h e program o ff work o f program o o u r own f o r e s t - x eriroen t s t a t i o n s f o r 1 9 ? 3 . an d a ls o w i l l name upon th e l i s t o f r e c e i v e o u r m onthly r e p o r t . t l e t t e r than a r e p o r t . i am s e n d in g you the l a s t two i s s u e s o f t h i s , and w i l l se e t h a t you g e t the ns'(^ ones a s th e y a r e is s u e d * Ifou a r . p r o b a b ly a w a r. th'^t t h i s y . a r w. a r e as t a b l i ^ l n g a / o r e a t i r p . r i m . n t S t a t i o n I n t h . P a o l f l o B o rth e s t which has f o r i t s t e r r i t o r y ; O regon. W ashington, and A la s k a . Mr. T .T . Munger o f th e F o r e s t s e r v i c e at P o r t l llP t the J i r e o t o r o f t h i s s t a t i o n , the h e a d q u a r t e r s o f y®^He 18. Jtist now. g e t t i n g u n d e r way i developinflr h i s program and b u i l d i h is p erso n n el a l s o g a t h e r i n g t o g e t h e r s u c h rq u ip m e n t^ a s ha p la n n e d , t h i s y e a r , to have a f o r c e o f about f i v e t e o h n io a l men i n perm anent a s s ig n m e n t . The u r l n c i p l ^ th o se o f growth and y i e l d , p a r c u l a r ^ , oT the C o a s t / o r e s t s ; b e t t e r methods o f f i r e pro p ro p e r manadement o f the m a jo r f o r e s t t y p e s . o m o f w hich a r e . o f c o u r s e , a s common to y o u r r e g io n as to OU^Be « . have a n o th e r S t a t i o n a t M is s o u l a , Uontan-i known w ork d e a ls w ith Idaho and ttos.. T h e i r p ro b le m s l i e c h i e f l y i n the Mount a i P o r e s t s , o f whioh th e w . s t e r n w h it e p in e i s the*^moat ^ p o r t a n t _ t r . e . _ - e have a s t a t i o n i n Few X ^ ^ i a ^ at ^ 'lA ^ rrs i : w o j^ ^ ^ e a ls ve y l a r g e l y a t p r e s e n t w it h the s p ru o e f o r e s t s o f the n o r t h e a s t . ir oaae you d e s ir e to g et in touch with any o f the S t a t io n s , I would suggest that you w rite to the L ir e o t o r s p e r s o n a lly . Theie i s en closed a copy o f a l i s t o f the F orest xperiment S t a t io n s , w ith th e ir addresses. in o trus th a t i t w i l l be p o s s i b l e f o r you to come e a s t ,a s you have planned and when you do i would lik e ry luch indeed to meet you and a ls o to have you me a numbe o f th men here in aahingt Very s i n c e r e l y y ou rs. (S g d .) £• N. Munns o t i n g C h ief. F orest Experiment S ta tio n s t QiLosures. Program o f work, e t o . . sent under separate o o v e r. i i *1 r- t I ADDSSSSES OP THE PBDEHAl POHSST EXPEHmaTT STATIONS D ir e c to r , A p p a l a c h i a Forest Bxperirrent a ta tlo n A s h e v i l l e . N.C. “ ‘'■ion. A>ireotor, Southern Forest Experiraent S ta tio n , New Orleans, La, D ir e c to r , Northeastern Forest Experiment S ta tio n , - • ^ e r s t , Mass. D irecto r Lake S ta te s Forest xperlment s t a t i o n . s i t y Farm Minn •*^lrector. F r i e s t h iv er F o M s t £.xperiment S ta tio n . ^ n t a n a B u ildin g, Miaaoula, Mont Itu rlst Fremont ^^eriraent S ta tio n Colorado S r r in g s . uolo Di w w w a a Southwestern Forest Fueriment F la g s t a ff A rlz. Statl D irector, P a c i f i c N.W, Forest -xperlraent 'Station, P ortland, Ore •ashing ton. Ulapp ‘^ard Sheppard G. k.Sudworth E. N. luTLnna R Brown C h ief o f Research s s l s t a n t C h ie f dendrology xperiment S ta tio n s Forest Measurements COPY. United S tatesM l . . .department o f -Iffrioulture ____ / o r e s t S ervice F orest Experimeixt S ta tio n June 1924 . Mr. P.M. Barr, / o r e s t Branch, -’'epartment o f Lands, Prinoe George,▼ B.C -^ear Ur. B a rr: 7**’^ ” 7°^ I n t e r . s t . d t o know from your e t t e r J? ****“ Pl«o*d in charge o f the O o lu S b ir ^ ® ! ~ Experiment S ta tio n in B r it is h f o r 1922‘ w h l c r 's ? B ™ i ^ “ ®®Py i n x e s t i g a t i v e re p o rt « ? r * T :_ -7 v a rio u s a o t i v i t i e s o f t h is s t o l o n as proposed and l a t e r c a r r ie d out in gen eral c o n fe r PiaM o u t - l i n e d . Our re p o rt f o r 1923 i s r i S o h L ui t r m i ^ L g r a p h e d b "L n ? * » »oon as i t comes in a copy M U th ese r e p o r ts oover o n ly the la r g e i n v e s t i g a u v . ,o r k .- ^ 'v h ; ’' d r t a i r r s ^ s e r ^ d M m e o g ra p h e j ^ H h io h , 1 4 1 s t r i h n t i o ; : '“' i ; ; r ‘e s“ .ourd b . is* ??t J?® them, although H / I t ? w ° o ? h e r 'p ? o ) e o ? s ? " P O ^ ih ly f o r ^or m ^ i f e s t reasons the r e p o r t as p epared f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n does not go in to the fin a n c e s o f the s t a t i o n . o f f i c e s in ir s h e v ille fxxcxu i e l d fl a o i lm i t ii e s oth er than seed beds hedn *orervice. I hope we s h a ll be a b le to keep in touch with each o t h e r ’ s a c t i v i t i e s , and s h a l l be vory glad to send you from time to time any ma from here that may appear to be o f s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t . Copies o f o f f i c e memo randa or p u b lic a t io n s o f i n t e r e s t to us which may be pre pared at your station w ill be appreciated in return V ery s i n c e r e l y you rs. ^,igd. ) S.T. Director. 1 COPY united s t a t e s Department o f A^rJculture Forest o e r v lc e P a c i f i c Northwest Forest Exp. S ta tio n Portland cregon. July 17, 1924. Mr. P M, ^ a r r ,J r .F o r e s t e r . Department o f Lands, P rin c e George, n .c A^ear S ir : ilirough UT. Jiunns’ l e t ' e r o f July 1 to you, copy o f which was sen t to me I have been very much in t e r e s te d in le a r n in g o f the establishm ent o f a f o r e s t experiment s t a t i o n in h r i t i s h Columbia. There are so many p o in ts o f reaemblano between the t e r r i t o r y red b our newly crea ted iment s t a t i o n he. o and your t is h Columbia that i fo r e s e e g re a t b e n e f i t s t o be derived by an interchange o f data and ideas a cro s s the 1 As you a e aware we have been doing some resea rch f o r y ea rs h ere, p a r t ly through the l o c a l Wind R iver ^ p e r im e n t s t a t io n and p a r t ly through the D l e t r l o t O f f i c e in Portland A r e c e n t a p p r o p r ia tio n promises a very al enlargement o f out work whioh has already oommeno I t i s to o soon, however to s t a t e e x a c t ly the l i n e s o f endeavor we w i l l oonoentrate on at the s t a r t but we exneot to form ulate a program tha i l l look some wa.r into the fu tu re during the coming month -^t presen t we are con tin u in g in the w io in it y o f .tind R iver the wo which has been under way there f o r some time. tabky the study o f the m e t e o r o lo g ic a l c o n d it io n s that lead up to aoute f i r e danger and the ans o f p re d icti them «e hope to do much work on our f i r e problems, p a r t i c u l a r l y the determ lnati of lam m ability c o n d it io n s , the beh avior o f f i r e s on a l l kinds o f s i t e s and typ es, and the progno o f dangerous ndttions I ha al e n t ly put in the f i e l d a small crew to tudy y i e l d o f Douglas f i r stands and they w i l l work in normal f u l l y - s t o c k e d second grow th" from about 40 to about 140 ars o f age ?hi w i l l supplecient the c o n s id e r a b le amount o f wor done in 1909 and 1911 •*e ex p ect to make t h i s a p r o j e c t and to gather a ient amount o f data to prepare rather com'-»rehensive y i e l d t a b le s f o r a l l v a r i e t i e s o f c o n d U io n s found in the ^ouglas f i r b e l t o f western Oregon and ashington »‘ e w i l l am plify t h i s study l a t e r by p u ttin g in many more permanen ample . I t seems to me that i t w i l l b m u t ^ l l y h e l p f u l to c o r r e l a e the work that we do on th is sid e o f the l i n e with what you do on the o th e r, e s p e c i a l l y ---------------- 1 r' w ^ in o rd e r that compari son might be ade * ’between the y i e l d s in one country and in the oth^r. -I-he fundamental p r i n c i p l e s ) % •-t ’rite naLhbor!^* a p p lica tio n le a r n more o f your work 4. ® ^ a v a ila b le to you o u t lin e s o-r any p r o je o t e we are undertaking or anv renn-rto v rr ee ss u lt from our mnr^v ^ re p o rts whioh may u lt from our work th st may o f n S e ^ i r t t| you ^ery t r u ly y ou rs. (S g d .) Thornton D ire cto r. ^ • T. Munger CO P y United -atates Jepartment o f A g ricu ltu re F orest S erv ice N ortheastern F orest Experiment s t a t io n Amherst, Mass. July 16, 1924. Mr. P.M. Bar Junior F o r e s te r , ■department o f Land F rin ce George, 3 ■dear Mr.Barr: ^.Munna has sent me a copy o f h is l e t t e r o f July 1 to you. From t h is I Judge th at you are fu t u r e , and ?n be p o s s ib le f o r you to in clu d e Amherst in your i t i n e r a r y . Ye should be more than glad o f an ^ R .t a oqu a ln t.d and to t e i r ^ f u aom ^M ng S to ? ? ^ 4* Isarn more o f Exreriment S ta tio n a c t i v i t i e s and plans In B r i t i s h Columbia. Very s i n c e r e l y y o u rs. ( « g d . ) 3 ,T . D ir e c t o r Lot 2688 160 acres Logged In 1926 - Examined I 950 Stand and Stock Table D.B.H Claes Spruce Bfe]Ram No. Volume f .b .m . No. 8 1 5 .0 300 16.4 328 10 11.k 456 23.6 944 12 8,6 774 8.6 774 lU 5 .0 775 6.5 1,008 16 L .3 989 3 .6 828 18 0 .7 214 0.7 277 20 22 T ota le 0 .7 336 45.7 3,844 Volume f .b .m . 0 59.4 4 ,1 5 9 COPY Department o f the I n t e r i o r Canada FORESTRY BRANCH OTTAWA. 25th June. 1924 S ir : I beg to acknowledge the r e c e ip t o f your l e t t e r o f June l o t h , and nde with i n t e r e s t that you have been placed in charge o f experim ental work in co n n e ctio n with the Northern zixperimental s t a t i o n o f the B r i t i s h Columbia ^sorest Branch• £no Ir egard to your requ est f o r memoranda or c l r o u l a r s d e a lin g with i n v e s t ig a t i v e work c a r r ie d on by our Branch , we have prepared a "F orest Research Manual which is in the oo o f p u b lic a t io n gd.) B.Roy Cameron B. Ac t i n g D ir e c t o r . P.M.Parr, xiq. B.C. F o re st Breinoh, r in c e eorge B