CONTROL 



In the past, efforts to control insects have been concentrated largely in plan- 

 tations. However, greater interest in recent years in the management of natural 

 stands of white pine has focused attention on the high degree of damage caused 

 by the white pine weevil. During 1963, 2,500 acres of high-value second growth 

 white pine stands in the Pembroke District were sprayed with DDT for control of 

 the weevil, using a Bell G2 helicopter. Other areas were sprayed with knapsack 

 sprayer and helicopter, and in some areas control was also achieved by clipping 

 and burning infested leading shoots. In total, almost 8,300 acres were treated for 

 control of the white pine weevil. 



After several years of intensive effort to control the red-headed pine sawfly, 

 the populations of this insect finally reached low levels over most of southern 

 Ontario. Despite this favourable over-all picture, populations remained high in 

 some areas, resulting in control spraying on 4,500 acres of plantations, most of 

 which were in the Kemptville District. 



In newly planted, old agricultural lands, white grubs are capable of destroying 

 the new plantations. Therefore, aldrin treatments at time of planting are essential, 

 and in 1963 about 950 acres of open, grassy sites were treated. An additional 200 

 acres were treated with zinc phosphide for control of mice. 



The major tree disease in Ontario's forests is the blister rust of white pine, 

 and a substantial control program, which is tied in to the broader intensive manage- 

 ment of white pine, has been in progress for several years. The disease is controlled 

 by using the herbicide 2, 4, 5-T to kill the alternate host plants, wild currants and 

 gooseberries, in the immediate vicinity of the pines. In 1963, an additional 15,700 

 acres of high-value young white pine stands were protected against the blister rust 

 in parts of the Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Pembroke, Lindsay, Tweed and 

 Kemptville Districts. 



The fomes root rot, which is the major plantation disease in Europe and is 

 starting to cause concern on this continent, was not discovered in Ontario until 

 1955, although it was probably brought into the province on nursery stock from 

 Europe in the early 1900's. The principal outbreak centres are in red-pine planta- 

 tions at St. Williams in the Lake Erie District, and at the Orr Lake Forest in the 

 Lake Simcoe District. It is expected that the disease may be controlled by applying 

 an inexpensive chemical, sodium nitrite, to all freshly cut stumps at time of tree 

 removal in plantations. A start was made in 1963 by treating almost 200 acres 

 during thinning operations, and it is anticipated that this practice will become 

 routine in southern plantations. 



Radio Communications 



Radio traffic totals were up 5 per cent on messages handled and 9 per cent on 

 total word count, over 1962 totals. The entire communication system handled, in 

 1963, 91,558 recorded messages totalling 2,421,607 words. In addition, there was 

 much spontaneous and unrecorded traffic between aircraft, mobile and portable 

 stations. 



Three new VHP radio stations were added to the network; being located at 

 Lanark, Sibbald Point Park and Bon Echo Park. 



Major purchases of new equipment consisted of 85 VHP six channel mobile 

 radiotelephones for early 1964 installation and 230 VHP Walkie Talkie trans- 

 receivers also for 1964 distribution and use. 



A pilot run of 30 transistorized lookout tower radio sets proved successful to 

 the point where 70 more were constructed late in 1963 for installation in three 

 administrative districts for the 1964 season. 



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