THE CHESTNUT TREE BLIGHT COMMISSION 



XN nineteen hundred and eleven the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed 

 a bill authorizing the Governor to appoint a Commission of five citizens 

 for the purpose of thoroughly investigating the Chestnut Tree Bark 

 Disease which is rapidly destroying the chestnut trees of the Commonwealth. 

 The Act placed an appropriation of |275,000 at the disposal of the Commission 

 for the investigation and scientific study of the problem, and more specifically 

 to ascertain the exact extent of the blight, and to devise ways and means 

 through which it might, if possible, be stamped out. 



The Commission was appointed in June, 1911, and, after organization, 

 began its work immediately by sending a large force of experts into the field. 

 The reports of these experts together with the results of the work of the 

 pathological staff, will, among other matters, be presented for discussion to 

 a Convention called by the Governor to assemble at Harrisburg, Pa., February 

 20th, next. 



In order that the other States not yet touched by the blight, but certainly 

 in its line of advance, may realize the seriousness of the situation, the Gover- 

 nor, who is much interested, has called this Convention for a consideration 

 of ways and means, in the hope that the States may be aroused to action 

 and be ready to meet the invasion at their borders. Pennsylvania's problem 

 is now or soon will become the problem of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massa- 

 chusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Mary- 

 land, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia. Ohio, 

 Indiana and Michigan. Active co-operation of the States is essential. And 

 the attendance of a large number of delegates is expected. 



Mr, Harold Pierce, Room 1112 Morris Building, Philadelphia, is the secre- 

 tary of the Commission. 



The nurserymen ^of California recently effected an organization for the 

 purpose of '^advancing the material and social sides of the nursery business." 

 Among the promoters of the organization are F. H. Wilson, Leonard Coates, 

 Fred H. Hoicard, Ahnon Wheeler, Thomas Chisholm, George C. Roeding, John 

 S. Armstrong, and E. Gill, Mr. W. V. Eherly, of Niles, California, was elected 

 president. 



The Wisconsin forest reserves have increased in the last six years from 

 JfOfOOO to 423,000 acres, hut the State must have a reserve of at least 

 2,000,000 acres in order to protect the headwaters of the most important 

 rivers, according to the statement made by State Forester E. M. Griffith in 

 an address on ^'State Forestry,'^ before the Department of Political Economy 

 and Social Science at Lawrence College. 



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