36 THE REPORT OF THE [ No. 19 



burning of certain felled areas at a time which would be the most favorable for the de- 

 struction of the insects which are preying upon the dead and dying trees. Such burnings, 

 however, should be very carefully controlled so as not to injure the trees of the untouched 

 forest, lest new feeding grounds be opened up for the insects. 



Indirectly, again, the control of forest insects is of much importance. Dr. Hopkins, 

 after a trip through the great north-west timber lands of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, 

 states that his observations prove conclusively that forest fires originate, in very many 

 cases, in timber areas which have been killed by insect depredators. The dead trunks 

 and broken branches furnish suitable conditions for the rise and spread of fires. 



The entrance of trunk and bark beetles into the trunk and bark of trees allows 

 access to many timber fungi which penetrate the tissues, aap the vitality of the trees, 

 and eventually kill them. The accompanying figures, 1, 2 and 3, illustrate the manner 

 in which some common timber beetles burrow along the wood beneath the bark Recent 

 studies by European and American mycologists show very clearly how very prevalent, as 

 well as harmful, fungous diseases are in the forests. It is quite true that insects otten 

 attack healthy trees, and fungi gain entrance to trees which have not been attacked by 

 insects, yet the fact remains that the presence of insect pests increases very much the 

 harmful effects of fungi. 



In answer, then, to the second question asked regarding the assistance which a 

 knowledge of insect conditions can give towards the control of forest insects, it may be 

 said in summary that much can be done (1) by cutting and felling timber at the most 

 advantageous season ; (2) making traps for insects by girdling and felling trees to which 

 the insects are attracted in preference to sound trees, then by careful burning of these 

 traps ; (3) preventing the cutting of timber in many parts of a limit, as these parts serve 

 as centres of infestation ; (4) preventing careless methods of handling the unfelled trees so 

 as not to injure them and thus to expose them to insect attacks ; (5) preventing fires 

 which we know destroy many trees and render them subject to insect attacks ; and (6) 

 introducing insects which prey upon injurious forms. 



We are not in a position at the present time to carry out all of these methods, for 

 we are ignorant of the life-histories and habits of the majority of the forest insects. Ac- 

 cordingly, I make a plea for the better studies of insects, and such can be best accom- 

 plished by a biological survey of the great timber areas of the Province, Such a survey 

 must naturally be undertaken by the Government, assisted, if possible, by the holders of 

 timber limits from the Grown. It is the duty of this Society to call the attention of the 

 Government to the necessity for such a survey. 



Professor Packard states in his valuable report on the Forest Insects, published in 

 1890, that " the number of insects which attack the different kinds of trees in the United 

 States is suflSciently large to excite great fears for the future prosperity of our diminished 

 forests, unless the Government interposes, and through the proper channels fosters entomo- 

 logical research in this direction. Our forests, moreover, are much richer in species of 

 trees than those of Europe. We have, without doubt, on the trees corresponding to those 

 of Europe as many destructive species as in Europe. But we have many more shade trees 

 and forest trees of importance in the Eastern United States alonr , and when we add to 

 these the forest trees of the western Rocky mountain plateau and of the Pacific coast, and 

 when we look forward to the attention which must be given in the immediate future to 

 the planting of shade and forest trees on the great plains and in California, the subject of 

 forest entomology assumes still more importance." 



According to Kaltenbach the number of injurious insects which attack the forest trees 

 of Central Europe is as follows : 



Oak 537 species 



Elm 107 



Poplars 264 " 



Willows „ 396 " 



Birches 270 " 



Conifers 299 " 



Beech 154 '' 



Alder 119 " 



It is apparent that neither the officials of the Department of Crown Lands of Ontario 

 nor the members of the Royal Commission on Forestry Protection in Ontario consider 



