222 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 5 



ments that are hard to explain to the nurserymen or one who may 

 be prejudiced. In cases where the San Jose Scale is in the nursery 

 or a given block, it is our practice to have destroyed all trees found 

 infested, by a hand-inspection of all the trees from the block, and 

 require fumigation of the balance. 



The question is often asked why hand-inspect — when fumigation, 

 is supposed to kill all insect life on the tree, or vice versa, — when^ 

 trees are carefully hand-inspected and the infested or diseased ones 

 rejected, why subject them to fumigation? Especially as the grower 

 does not desire it and the stock is going to an infested neighborhood. 



Moreover, recently, we had a case of a car-load of trees shipped 

 to one of our nurseries from another State, under Certificate, that 

 was found to contain many trees infested with scale. The consignee- 

 especially desired the trees to fill orders already taken. The local 

 nurserymen desired to use the trees and agreed to fumigate them a 

 second time, but did not desire to return those that showed infestation, 

 as they made up particular varieties needed. 



In such cases, it is difficult to satisfy the nurserymen with our argu- 

 ments, that, notwithstanding the double fumigation, it was not deemed 

 best to allow such stock to be distributed. 



I believe there is room for a reasonable discussion of this subject 

 and possibility for the inspectors in the several States to have greater 

 uniformity in their requirements for the distribution of stock under 

 such conditions. We must as a body of men study both sides of these 

 questions, and as conditions develop be prepared to deal with them 

 intelligently and reasonably. There is no doubt that both the nursery- 

 men and growers require further education as to effect and usefulness 

 of fumigation as well as other measures to prevent injury from insects 

 and disease in the nursery. 



THE CHESTNUT BARK DISEASE 



By Dr. Haven Metcalf, Office of Forest Puthology, Bureau Plant Industry, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture 



The chestnut bark disease was first recognized as a serious disease 

 in the vicinity of New York City in 1904. Its origin is unknown, 

 but there is some evidence that it was imported from the Orient. This 

 view is not, however, held by all investigators, but whatever may 

 have been its time or place of origin, it is certain that it has now spread 

 into at least 10 States. In the vicinity of New York City and through 

 adjacent counties it has killed practically all chestnut trees. Through- 

 out a much larger neighboring area, practically all chestnut trees are 

 infected. Outside of this area, throughout the country from the 



