94 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Protection 

 (a) Fire 

 No fires were reported on the nurseries during the year. 



(b) Insects 



At St. Williams outbreaks of Ips pini, which has occurred in previous 

 years, was not reported this year which would indicate that this insect is now 

 under control. At Midhurst the spruce gall aphid was troublesome and 

 the white pine weevil and the Nantucket pine shoot moth continues to do 

 damage. At Orono a severe outbreak of cut worms had to be controlled as 

 well as the spruce gall aphid and an attack of albo-capitana was found on a 

 13 year old jack pine plantation. 



(c) Birds 



Little damage was reported from the nurseries from birds during the 

 germinating period, and at St. Williams the method of controlling these by 

 shooting has been replaced by establishing feeding grounds adjacent to the 

 seed bed areas. 



(d) Other Animals 



Rabbits continue to be a nuisance in all older plantations and squirrels 

 did some damage in digging up nuts and mice have done considerable damage 

 by girdling young trees below the snow line. 



, (e) Fungous Diseases 



Damping off was quite serious at St. Williams but did less damage at the 

 other two nurseries. The eradication of ribes has been continued at St. 

 Williams and Orono but has been slackened somewhat at Midhurst in order 

 to give the plants an additional year's growth. Poplar canker is also a serious 

 problem at Midhurst. 



Woodlot Improvement 



At both St. Williams and Midhurst, where there are large areas of wood- 

 land, improvement of this has been continued steadily. At Midhurst the 

 woodlot area has been improved at least once and at St. Williams the larger 

 areas are being improved for either permanent woodlot areas or for planting. 



Publicity 



Parks at all three nurseries, which are adjacent to the property, are a 

 source of attraction to many people who in this way visit the nurseries and 

 •thereby have an opportunity of observing the work of reforestation from 

 the time the seed beds are set out until the trees reach an age ranging up to 

 27 years. 



At St. Williams particularly, this local influence is felt and, supplemented 

 by the interest of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, has done a great deal 

 to encourage people to reforest waste land. Approximately one-third of the 

 trees distributed by St. Williams during the year have gone to residents within 

 the county of Norfolk. One exhibit was set up for the town of Simcoe and 



