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15v Josiii'ii S. Ili.ick 

 Chief, Office of Research, Pennsylvania Department of forestry 



The chestnut bhj^ht appeared in Pennsylvania about twelve years 

 a^o. The disease spread rapidly and in a few years most of the chest- 

 nut trees in the eastern and southeastern parts of the State were 

 infected, and almost every infected tree was killed within a few years. 

 It migrated westward and northwestward at a variable rate, spreading 

 with almost incredible rapidity along the foothills and slowing up 

 somewhat upon reaching higher altitudes, broad limestone valleys, 

 and other natural barriers. 



The present status of the chestnut blight in Pennsylvania may be 

 set forth by dividing the State into three distinct regions : 



Rcgioi I. — Comprises that jjortion of the State lying southeast of 

 a line drawn from Ilonesdale. Wayne County, through Mauch Chunk 

 and Harrisburg to Chambersburg- in Franklin County. Most of the 

 trees in this region were infected prior to 1913. 



Regio)i 2. — Comprises the mountainous areas west and northwest 

 of Region 1, and extends westward to the Allegheny mountains. The 

 western boundary follows approximately a line drawn from Sayre, 

 Bradford County, through Williamsport to Bedford in Bedford 

 County. In this region the disease reached its height between 1913 

 and 1918. 



Region J. — Comprises the area west and northwest of Region 2. 

 Here the blight is still in the initial stage of invasion, most of the 

 infection having taken place since 1918, and in some localities the 

 disease is still rare. 



A general survey of the situation shows that the chestnut blight 

 is now found throughout the entire range of the chestnut in Pennsyl- 

 vania. The degree of infection and the extent of damage ranges from 

 a stage of initial invasion in Region 3 to a complete destruction of all 

 merchantable stands in Region 1, and an intermediate condition of 

 invasion in Reirif^n 2. 



' Read before the Societv o\ Air.erican Foresters at its annual meeting in Xew 

 York City, December 20, 1020. 



