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See how seeds are prepared and seedlings grown in this
online tour featuring lots of pictures from the Forest
Centre. From the greenhouses to the transplant beds,
the Ferguson Forest Centre is a fascinating place, producing
millions of seedlings each year.
Seed collection & preparation
Seeds are collected throughout the province's site
regions and forwarded to the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources seed plant at Angus, Ontario. There the seeds
are extracted, cleaned, and stored. The seeds are then
sent back, by site region, to the nurseries for spring
seeding.
Seeding
In early May, seeds received from the seed plant, or
collected at the forest centre, are set into freshly
prepared seed beds or into greenhouses.
Tending
Thinning and weeding are especially important during
the first few years. By reducing competition and crowding
with the use of herbicides and hand weeding, the seedlings
will grow to their full potential.
Irrigation of the seedlings is also used, sometimes
daily, when rainfall is insufficient. Without a constant
supply of water the trees would become stunted and weak.
To ensure that the trees grow to their maximum potential,
a top dressing is also applied during growth and development.
Transplanting
To obtain better growth, several conifer species are
transplanted in their first or second year with wider
spacings between them. Using mechanical transplanters,
staff can transplant several hundred thousand seedlings
a day!
Lifting
Potting
Tree improvement
The Ferguson Forest Centre is also equipped with a
tree improvement centre where experimental work occurs
on hybrid poplar and the genetic improvement of coniferous
trees.
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