This study, under contract with the British Columbia Ministry of Forests Silviculture Branch, is part of a ten-year re-measurement of the influence of squirrel damage on tree growth and wood quality in 25 year-old lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia (Engelm)). The damaged trees were surveyed and identified immediately after thinning in 1979. In 1989 (September), 18 control and 18 damaged trees were sampled by cutting a 1.27 m long bolt from each tree above stump height. Because squirrel damage is usually restricted to the lower portions of the stem, these bolts contained all the damage. As a measure of wood quality, the following properties were investigated: compression wood distribution, relative density, ring width, fibre length, total solvent and water extractives. On average, the scarred trees did not produce more compression wood than the controls. In the last nine years of growth, from 1981 to 1989, the control trees contained rings with an average width of 2.8 mm and average relative density of 0.42. In the same interval, the squirrel damaged trees produced 4.2 mm-wide rings (an increase of 50%), with an average relative density of 0.46 (an increase of 7%). In terms of fiber length, the wound tissue in the damaged trees contained about 22 percent shorter fibers than the control trees (1.4 mm compared with 1.8 mm). On average, the squirrel-damaged trees had lower total solvent and water extractives than the undamaged lodgepole pine reference trees; 7.7 compared with 8.7 percent. In addition to the above quantifications of wood quality, a literature survey summarized the salient results of other workers examining the properties of wound-associated wood versus normal wood tissue.
In the Fall of 1989 FERIC monitored the self-drafting winged subsoiler built by Tilth Inc. of Monroe, Oregon. The self-drafting winged subsoiler has already become established as a soil tillage implement for treating artificially compact soils. The objective of this trial, near Prince George, B.C., was to determine if this tool can be used effectively on naturally compact soils. Pretreatment assessment, time analysis, and posttreatment assessment were completed. The results are presented in this report. The B.C. Ministry of Forest (Forest Sciences Section) will publish a comprehensive research report after the biological and pedological results have been compiled and analysed. Other recent B.C. trials are also discussed.
A certain amount of information on the pressure treatment industry in New Zealand was obtained in the week prior to attending an international conference on wood preservation. This report discusses why the New Zealanders have the highest per capita consumption of treated wood in the world; it briefly touches on the treatability of their radiata pine and emphasises the variety of their added value treated wood products. Environmental, health and safety issues are mentioned and two cautionary tales are related
This project was undertaken at the recommendation of Forintek's Research Program Committee, who were concerned about periodic large claims due to the growth of sapstain and mould on export lumber, thought to be due to the variability in fungicide levels on treated wood. The committee requested an assessment of currently used types of equipment for application of antisapstain chemicals and identification of currently available technologies or procedures which could improve the quality of treatment. A survey of spray technology used to apply chemicals was carried out, focussed towards good application of chemical.
Research to commercialize ultra-low-volume charged-drop spray application technology for the fungicidal protection of unseasoned lumber during transit and storage is described. Tests were made to establish the feasiblity of using the Electrodyn spray in a commercial setting and a field test investigated the efficacy of treatments and chemicals applied.
Preservatives - Tests
Spraying
Preservation - Non pressure processes - Brushing and spraying
