134 FOREST COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 



destroyed. It is known that the disease has killed trees up to 

 sixteen years of age in this country and up to thirty years in 

 Europe. Trees of any age are liable to be attacked, which 

 means the ultimate commercial extinction of the five-leaved 

 pines, unless the rust is suppressed. 



However, foresters and pathologists are generally agreed 

 that if adequate steps are at once taken against this disease, 

 the planting of white pine need not be discontinued. It is of 

 course the most valuable timber tree in the middle northern and 

 northeastern states. 



Now is the time for the state and federal governments" to act. 

 Nothing short of the most prompt and thorough measures with 

 full cooperation will suffice. A few thousand dollars spent 

 now will do more good than hundreds of thousands after the 

 disease has secured a permanent foothold. Once it is thoroughly 

 established, no amount of money will save the five-leaved pines 

 where currants or gooseberries are associated with them. A 

 vigorous and continuing effort now should completely eradicate 

 the disease ; at the least, it will so reduce its spread, as to make 

 its control possible at a minimum cost. There was a time when 

 the gipsy and brown-tail moths could have been exterminated, 

 had the proper measures been applied. That opportunity was 

 neglected with the result that, despite the subsequent expendi- 

 ture of millions of dollars, we shall probably never be rid of 

 those pests. The chestnut blight was neglected until it became 

 so widely scattered that control was impossible, and all of our 

 chestnut trees are doomed, which means the loss of millions of 

 dollars. This was due to sheer neglect. Are we to lose our 

 pines and pine-using industries in the same way? 



The Federal Government will be asked to make an appropria- 

 tion of $50,000 for this work this year. This is the minimum 

 amount with which the task of suppression can be undertaken. 

 The individual states will also be asked to do their share. 

 Massachusetts, alone, has requested its legislature for an appro- 

 priation of $10,000 to meet this emergency. With so many 

 states already affected, the problem is a national one, and every 

 one who is interested in saving the white and other five-leaved 

 pines should at once request his senator and representative in 

 Washington to secure this appropriation. He should also see 

 that the proper authorities in his own state are given the money 



