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Home My WebLink AboutFarming '92, 1992-03-18, Page 21Farming '92 FARMING ’92, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18,1992. A21. Guelph’s gene banks help preserve native trees A recent groundswell to preserve native woody plants coincides with a 12-year-old project at the Univer sity of Guelph's Arboretum. The project — to collect and plant seeds from wild plants of the Car olinian forest system — recently received a boost from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. MNR will sponsor, over two years, the planting of gene banks with rare native species. These gene banks will help rebuild the province's heritage forest system. Once the gene banks are estab lished, rare seeds will be made available for restoration and horti cultural purposes. “Hopefully, we're not just creat ing a museum here,” says Steven Aboud, database co-ordinator of the Arboretum/Institute for Envi ronmental Policy and Stewardship. The Carolinian forest region cov ers much of southwestern Ontario, from Toronto to just north of Samia at Ipperwash, with one species out lying in the Kingston area. It is a deciduous forest system made up of many species of oak, hickory and tulip trees that have declined dra matically over the past century because of agriculture, the logging industry and urban expansion. The gene banks are part of MNR's sustainable forestry initia tive, which recognizes the value of genetic diversity. The Committee of the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada is also lending support. The cucumber magnolia is endangered in Canada, and the two species planted in 1991 into perma nent gene banks under MNR funds, blue ash and Kentucky coffee tree, have been placed on the threatened- status list for Canada. In 1980, the Arboretum recog nized the importance of preserving the Carolinian forest with a project called “Picking up the Paw Paws”, named for the rare woody plant Asimina triloba. The goal was to do an inventory of species in the wild and establish an ex situ gene bank of the Carolinian woody plants. Before 1980, the Arboretum imported stock for its collections of native plants. “We knew nothing of the genetics of those plants,” recalls project leader Henry Kock. “Now, we believe that plant species grown from Ontario seed are more adapt able than species imported from the United States.” Over the years, many field trips were made to collect seeds from rare plants still existing in a wild state. “We found out that popula tions were quite small for true native Carolinian species,” says Kock. Permission from farmers or landowners was a prerequisite. Timing was important, because seeds are available only a few days or weeks each year for certain species, he says. If no seed was available, two or three seedlings (enough for the gene bank) were taken, but only if they were plenti ful. Each of the gene banks will con sist of one-quarter hectare. Species being planted include Kentucky coffee tree, blue ash, shellbark hickory, Chinquapin oak, tulip tree, cucumber magnolia, flowering dog wood, sycamore and paw paw. All orchard specimens will come from the Arboretum's two-hectare native-plant nursery, which now contains young trees grown from wild seed from the original collec tion expeditions. For the past three years, the Arboretum has run seminars on growing native plants from seed. Kock is currently designing a course for professionals in the hor ticultural, nursery and greenhouse industries, and is writing a nursery manual about growing native trees and shrubs from bioregional seed sources to maintain genetic diversi ty- “There is a lot of interest in native plants and landscaping,” he says. “Native vegetation is incredi bly beautiful. It contains fascinat ing species and amazingly diverse ecosystems.” Mass plantings of non-native species - still being carried out by some conservation authorities — can do more harm than good, Kock says. “If you plant a monoculture of pine trees, there's not much species diversity there as a life sup port system.” It will take five years before the nursery industry can meet the homeowner demand for all native plants. In the meantime, for conser vation planting, Kock advises peo ple to let nature do some of the work. He suggests they wait and insist on local seed sources for native plants, grow their own native plants or salvage plants from con struction sites. They can contact the Ministry of Transportation and Communications or construction companies to inquire about natural areas slated for destruction. Although some agencies have allowed people to salvage plants from these areas, that doesn't make it okay to continue expansion into the few remnant forest areas in southwestern Ontario, especially adjacent to sites of endangered species, Kock says. GARDENING COURSES AT CENTRALIA COLLEGE Landscaping for the Environment March 26/92 7-10 p.m. $20 On a small or large scale, this course is designed for home owners; landowners and farmers. The course provides ideas on ways to save a natural environment and how to plant a landscape to attract wildlife and birds. Topics Include forestry, erosion control, planting wild flowers, Indigenous tress and shrubs. Bulbs, Corms, Tubers April 1/92 7-10 p.m. $20 This course will discuss the different types of spring, summer and fall bulbs, how they multiply, how to select a site for best growth and how to plant and care for them. Low Maintenance Gardening April 7,14/92 7-10 p.m. $30 Discover how to create a professional looking landscaped yard without the time and maintenance usually required. Participants will learn the basics of how to Identify low maintenance shrubs and ground cover and where, when and how to plant In order to achieve maximum beauty with minimum time and effort. Growing Irises April 9/92 7-10 p.m. $15 The owners and operators of McMillan's Iris Garden will discuss how to grow, propagate and care for Irises and talk about the characteristics for the many varieties available. Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses April 22/92 7-10 p.m. $20 Learn about the various grasses you can grow that will add a new look to your garden. Topics covered Include Identifying grasses, planting and maintenance how-to's. Composting and Home Gardening April 23,30/92 7-10 p.m. $20 For beginners and experienced home gardeners. This course features information on mulching, preparing the seed bed and cultivation practices. The course emphasizes alternatives to commercial fertilizers and herbicides. Participants also learn how to grow transplants from seed and cultural practices for unusual vegetable species. Growing Perennials April 28 & May 5/92 7-10 p.m. $30 For variety In your home landscape, consider the Investment in perennial flower beds. Participants learn to identify perennials, when each blooms, colour of the flower, how to propagate each, and how to plan a flower bed. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food All courses include GST To register or for more information call Centralia College, Huron Park, Ont. (519) 228-6691, Ext 285 AT YOUR ONE-STOP FARMING HEADQUARTERS •FEED«FERTILIZERS-SEED-CHEMICALS /$\ PIONEER. A SEED CORN TOPNOTCH FEEDS LTD. Brussels, Ont. Branch mi Johnson OOT Farm Consultant Manager OQf “OU 1 I John McKIchanDon Johnson Badminton's easy and exciting! 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