34 THE REPORT OF THE [ No. 19 



exhibited in illustration of the address were drawn by Dr. Fyles himself, who thus 

 shewed that he was no mean artist, as well as an eminent entomologist and botanist. He 

 then spoke of the method of fertilization of nasturtiums, and said that he had formed a 

 diflferent theory from that put forth by the President, and would no v look forward to 

 further investigations of the case. Mr. Bowman heartily supported the motion, and took 

 occasion to speak of the danger many people incurred from their ignorance of the distinct- 

 ive characteristics of poisonous fungi, mentioning the case of one that he had gathered 

 this autumn, the immature specimens of which were destitute of the disagreeable odour 

 belonging to the plant. 



A PLEA FOR THE SYSTEMATIC AND ECONOMIC STUDY OF THii 

 FOREST INSECTS OF ONTARIO. 



By Prof. W. Lochhead, Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph. 



Ontario has an immense area of forest lands composed of hemlock, spruce, tamarac, 

 balsam and pine. According to a recent report of the Forestry division of Ontario, " Of 

 the 142 millions of acres comprising the province, about 120 millions of acres are still 

 owned by the crown. Out of this, nearly 22,000 square miles, or 14 million acres are 

 under license to lumbermen." The Government has very wisely done much to preserve 

 these valuable domains from destruction by fire, by the appointment of a large number of 

 rangers, who patrol, as it were, the forests and put out fires which may have been care- 

 lessly started by Indians, campers, or settlers. 



There is, however, a danger, perhaps as serious as that of fire, against which no pre- 

 caution has been taken. I refer to the danger of insect depredations. 



Ontario is falling behind many of the neighboring States of the Union with respect 

 to the great problem of the relation of insect work to our forest domains. Much work is 

 being done by the Federal Government at Washington, and by many of the States where 

 extensive forests exist, in determining the conditions which increase or decrease the 

 extent of insect ravages. Already extensive experiments have been carried out, and 

 much valuable information has been secured. The investigations have found that the 

 amount of damage caused by insects in the large forests is enormous ; and to prove that 

 their results are worthy of consideration the very persons who are most directly inter- 

 ested in the preservation of the forest timber, the great lumber and timber companies, 

 have readily come forward and assisted the investigator by affording every facility in the 

 forest for a thorough study, and by money contributions as well. 



In Europe every trained forester is well informed with regard to forest insects and 

 knows how to combat their attacks ; but in Ontario we are content to go along in our 

 ignorance and pay no heed to insects or their ravages, probably because our forest areas 

 are so large. 



The questions will naturally be asked : " In what way can a study of forest insects 

 help us in the preservation of our forests?" and " How can assistance be rendered in 

 cases of serious insect ravages ? " 



In answer to the first question it may be said that a knowledaje of the life histories 

 of injurious forest insects is just as essential to a proper, intelligent campaign of opera- 

 tions as is a knowledge of life histories in our work against the foes of the orchard and 

 garden. Systematic work must precede intelligent economic work ; we must distinguish 

 the economic forms from the beneficial or harmless species. In many cases it may be 

 possible to utilize the beneficial forms as allies against the injurious forms, and in a well 

 developed plan of operations the beneficial insects should be preserved from destruction. 



I maintain, then, that a systematic collection of forest insects should be made so 

 that we may become familiar with the forms ; that a series of observations be made so 

 that the life-histories of as many as possible be obtained for our guidance in combatting 

 the injurious forms. 



In answer to the second question proposed it may be said that hopeful results have 

 been secured for American conditions of forestry which are so very different from those 

 obtaining in Europe. In Europe the forests are carefully guarded, and a semi-military 

 system of protection is in vogue in most of the continental countries. 



