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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, Septe-mbr4Ï '1001: - l A continuai search fo)r a better tree operation, where two crops can be developcd in a year represents a shipment of fromn three-quarters of a million to 1.5 million. They are shipped bare rooted. Three permanent staff are employed to operate the Centre; Lynn Farintosh, Katherine Staples, Lynn Farintosh,ý Vegetation Propagation Forester, inspects a plant specimen housed in the Breeding Hall unit of the Tree Improvement Centre. The W. R. Bunting Tree, Improvement Centre at the Orono Provincial Nursery celebrates its tenth anniversary this month. During this period of time the emphasîs has been, as the namne of the Centre implies, tree improvement, a focus that had always been of great interest to W. R. Bunting, the former superintendent, and for whom the Centre was namned. Lynn Farintosh, Vegetation Propagation Forester, directs the operation and last week outlined to, us the features that the Centre now contains -to simulate various conditions of nature conducdive to, tree growth and seed germination. In some ways conditions are manipulated to produce fail out of summer when it is so desired through the control of lighting and temperatures and even the content of Carbon Dioxide in the air surrounding the trees. The aim is better root systems, faster growing trees, disease resistance and ultimately a better specie of tree. Very little is left to chance in the growing process with under beach heating, irrigation booms for controlled distribution of watering, humidity control, high-pressure sodium lighting, Carbon Dioxîde and acid injection programs, black- out curtains and finally rolling benches to eliminate the tedious task of moving flats of trees. nhe tree improvement program requires developmnent through a breeding program that lias been ongoîng since the opening of the centre ten years ago along with the developmnent of seed orchards especially for White Pine and Norway Spruce thiat are miaintained on the nursery property., The seed orchard stock was selected for their positive characteristics of growth, disease resistance and general health. It was a selection of seed from the desired trees and in other cases grafting of selected scions onto root stock. This programt has been a large program at the Centre over the past ten years. Incidentally the seed cones from the White Pine were beingcollected last week and on Sunday we found Clifford, Frances and the Michael Hutton family busy at work collecting cones at the local seed orchard . To say the- least it, is a sticky job as the cones are dotted with bubbles of pine pitch. Lynn Farintosh makes mention of what is called Flower Induction -S exercising stress on the trees to c encourage earlier and more 0f ten flowering thus increasing production of seed cones. This stress can be iaduced with pipe clamps on the tree trunks, root pruning, the use of growth hormones or creating a drought condition for the trees. Through cross pollination of the female flower with pollen from another tree further improvements are sought. Such cross pollination is recorded to later determine the success of the particular cross With the seed source established it becomes a matter of germinating the seed and making selections for improvement in the genetics of the particular specie. The Centre program also includes a program of rooted juvenile cuttinigs where inch long cuttings are taken fromn donor trees and placed in peat moss and vermiculite mix to root under controlled conditions. These cuttings may be started from January to April, grown for the rest of the year, hardened off in the winter and shipped in the spring. Some 120,000 seedlings are produced in this form at the Nursery mainly in the three Spruces, Larch and Tamarack. Donor trees for this operation are selected for their characteristics "and taken from selected seedlings. They reach an age of 3 to 5 years before being discarded. Farintosh states it is desirable that the donor trees be vibrant so as to produce cuttings with stamnina and a desire to grow. Container seedlings is another operation of the Centre mainly in the growing of Pines, and some Spruce. In this program the seeds from the seed orchard are sown in Mfarch. Germination is almost 100 percent under the condition set in the Centre for this program. As the seedlings are in small containers they are easier and cheaper to plant and because roots are not disturbed they do not suffer planting stress. However on the other side of the ledger they do cost more to produce. The Centre produces upwards of 200,000 a year. The centre plays a part in another programn whereby seed is planted in a plug generally for Cedar, Hemlock and Larch. These seeds are germinated in the Centre and then transplanted into the field to be shipped as one and two year old transplant seedlings. This Above: The Tree Improvemnent Centre with three Greenhouses and the Headerhouse spaced in betIween. Seedling trees transferred from thie-Improvement Centre now residig in the outdoor cold frames. Each cold frame houses some 100,000 seedlings. Nursery Propagation Technicians and Clifford Frances, Greenhouse Techn ician. The operati on also includes three partime workers who are employed some ten months of the year. Extra staff is employed at the busy times of the year. second last nlght. of racing this year"' ON"r MSS r LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN STREET STOCK Tm Milligan Daryl Leatherdale AndyWarbuittn CANADA'S FINEST 1/ MILE Wayne Wuiiams RandySlack Rod Marahall ___GEVR ATRA NGf Ai Thomson John Durmtt Bob Franks GATES OPEN 5:w0 P. .V-RACNG 7:00 p. ADISIO ADUIT $1100 -For information (705) 743-3850-~ TENDER SEALED TENDERS, clearly marked as to contents, for the contract isted below, submitted to the Corporation of the Town of Newcastle, Office of the Clerk, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, Ontario, LiC 3A6, are invited and wilI be received on the forms and in the envelope provided until the specified closing time and date. Tender documents may be obtained from the Purchasing Office at the above address. TENDER NW91-29 - Municipal Administrative Centre Renovations Closlng Timne & Date: 12:00 Noon (Local Time) Wednesday, September 18, 1991 The Iowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Date of Publication: Wednesday, September 4, 1991 Mrs. Lou Ann-Birkett' Purchasing & Supply Age Telephone: (416) 623-33î ant ý79 ext. 268 pO 04661 Jeau Sinurne SOHOOF DANCE Now In Bowmanville - Waverly Plaza Unit 210 Registration: Saturday, September 7th 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or bycalling 983-8218