The Rural Voice, 2003-10, Page 27and cool, but not freezing nights
seems to produce the best display.
Sitce carotenoids are present
throughout the summer, yellow and
gold colours are fairly constant from
year to year.
In contrast to carotenoids and
chlorophyll, anthocyanins are
produced in late summer and fall. To
produce brilliant scarlet, purple and
crimson colours that are highlighted
by many plant species, bright sunlight
in early fall is needed to increase
sugar production in the trees. Sugars
trapped in leaves spur the production
of anthocyanin pigments, creating red
tints and showy foliage in specific
plant species.
Any environmental condition
during the growing season
that may cause chlorophyll
production to slow and stop early can
lead to an early showing of colours.
Drought is an example of stress that
can lead to early loss of chlorophyll
in tree leaves.
In addition to being early,
droughty seasons are often less
colourful and Tess showy than
normal, mostly due to a lack of
anthocyanin pigment. With an early
reduction of leaf chlorophyll very
little sugar will be present in leaves to
enable production of anthocyanin. In
years of stress, carotenoid pigments
dominate since anthocyanin pigments
may be reduced or absent from the
colour spectrum.
What makes leaves fall off trees?
• Tender leaf tissues freeze in winter
so plants in temperate cold climates
must either protect their leaves or
shed them. Deciduous trees drop their
leaves and equip their stems, twigs
and buds to survive the extremely
cold temperatures. Fallen leaves
decompose and fortify the soil with
nutrients and organic matter.
Many conifers keep their foliage
during winter. The needle-like or
scale -like foliage becomes covered
with a heavy coating of wax that
keeps moisture in while the fluid
inside the cells contain substances
that resist freezing. Needles and scale
leaves do eventually shed off the
trees after several years when they
become less functional and heavily
shaded by younger needles further
out on new branches. Conifers that
keep their needles year round are
referred to as evergreens. Tamarack
is an example of a deciduous conifer
and is therefore not an evergreen.0
WEST WAWANOSH
MUTUAL
INSURANCE
COMPANY
1879 (69 2003
'Neighbour helping Neighbour"
529-7921
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Each year chainsaws cause serious
injury and death in Ontario woodlots
SAFETY TIPS:
• Prepare the cutting site and have an escape route.
• Use proper felling techniques.
• Make sure chain is correctly filed and prapery tensioned.
• Know causes of and how to avoid KICKBACK.
• Wear appropnate personal protective equipment.
YOUR LOCAL AGENTS/BROKERS
Frank Foran, Lucknow
Donald Simpson, Ripley
Omni Insurance, Clinton
Omni Insurance, Goderich
Omni Insurance, Aubum
Lyons & Mulhem Insurance,
Goderich
McTaggart Wettlaufer Insurance,
Mitchell
Miller Insurance, Kincardine
P.A. Roy Insurance, Clinton
P.A. Roy Insurance, Wingham
Banter, MacEwan, Feagan,
Goderich
John Moore Insurance, Dublin
Kleinknecht Insurance, Linwood
Miller Insurance, Southampton
Miller Insurance, Owen Sound
Gray Insurance, Seaforth
Craig, McDonald, Reddon,
Walkerton
Craig, McDonald, Reddon,
Hanover
Craig, McDonald, Reddon,
Mildmay
Craig, McDonald, Reddon,
Durham
Chatsworth Insurance,
Chatsworth
Davis & McLay Insurance,
Lions Head
Elliott Nixon Insurance, Blyth
Seaforth Insurance, Seaforth
Sholdice Insurance, Brussels
528-3824
395-5362
482-3434
524-9899
529-7273
524-2664
348-9150
396-3465
482-9357
357-2851
524-8376
345-2512
698-2215
797-3355
376-0590
527-2500
881-2701
364-3540
367-2297
369-2935
794-2870
793-3322
523-4481
527-1610
887-6100
INSURANCE FOR FARM, RESIDENTIAL,
COMMERCIAL AND AUTO' •
A Member Of The ,,'
Ontario Mutual Insurance Association
GREY BRUCE
FORESTRY SERVICE
TREE MARKING
Benefits of
MARKING your
woodlot for
THINNING:
Optimal Tree Growth
Wildlife Habitat
*
Species Diversity
*
Health and Quality of
the Woodlot
....plantations or
hardwood stands
Ask us about our complete
forest management program.
A Co-operative Program Between:
Grey Sauble
Conservation
Authority
R.R. #4, Owen Sound N4K 5N6
(519) 376-3076 * forestry.gsca@bmts.com
CONSERVATION
R.R. #1, Hanover N4N 3B8
(519) 364-1255 * forestry@svca.on.ca
MEI
OCTOBER 2003 23