THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 439 



the chestuut "blight" or bark disease, which usually results in the total 

 destructiou of the chestnut groves located in these districts. Tlie con- 

 stantly diminishing supply of the edible chestnut lias increased the 

 price to $10 per bushel in the New York market. 



In view of the fact that large areas of California foothill lands are 

 particularly adapted to the cultivation of the chestnut, as indicated by 

 the remarkable health and bearing qualities of isolated trees, the state 

 commissioner has started an inquiry through the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture to determine the exact area through which the 

 disease has spread so far. A particularly virulent attack of the blight 

 is reported from Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, 

 and it is extending rapidly northward through the New England states 

 as far as the chestnut will grow. 



The following regulations and instructions have been sent to the 

 county horticultural commissioners, as quarantine guardians of the 

 state, for the purpose of calling their attention to this deadly disease, in 

 order that they may be on their guard and be especially careful in the 

 examination of any chestnut trees arriving in shipments of nursery stock 

 from the East. 



STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

 COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



QUARANTINE REGULATION NO. 6. 

 Chestnut Bark Disease. 



The fact has been determined by the State Commissioner of Horti- 

 culture that a virulent disease of chestnut trees known as Chestnut 

 Bark Disease (Endothia parasitica Murr.), new to and not known to 

 exist in the state of California, is widely distributed in several states 

 of the United States, and that this disease can readily be transported 

 on nursery stock. 



Therefore, all state quarantine guardians are hereby urged to be 

 especially diligent in examining chestnut trees imported into the state of 

 California. 



The following description taken from the Year Book of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture for 1912 is here quoted for guidance at time of 

 making inspection of imported chestnut trees : 



"Nursery trees affected by the bark disease rarely show it prominently at the 

 time when they are shipped ; the threads of conidia or the yellow or orange 

 pustules are rarely present, and usually all the inspector can find is a small, 

 slightly depressed, dark-colored area of dead bark, usually near the ground, 

 which is easily overlooked or mistaken for some insignificant injury. Upon cut- 

 ting into such a spot the inner bark shows a most characteristic disorganized 

 "punky" appearance quite different from that of any other bark injury. Occa- 

 sionally a yellowish brown or reddish band or blotch, either girdling or partly 

 girdling the young tree, may be seen, which is very characteristic." 



All state quarantine guardians are hereby requested to segregate and 

 hold any and all chestnut trees showing symptoms as described above, 

 and forward samples in tight containers to the Quarantine Office at 

 San Francisco for determination. 



(Signed) G. H. Hecke, 

 State Commissioner of Horticulture. 

 Issued December 4, 1916. — G. H. H. 



