NOTES AND COMMENTS 1085 



densed form, including one or two of the more important papers pre- 

 sented. This publication, which may be made either in the form of a 

 separate pamphlet or through some magazine, or possibly both, will 

 make permanently available for reference the more important facts 

 brought out by the meeting and the exact resolutions adopted. 



In connection with the resolutions adopted at the Pittsburgh confer- 

 ence, it may be of interest to state also the conclusions reached at the 

 conference of State and Government men actively engaged in co-oper- 

 ative blister- rust work in the New England States held at Amherst, 

 Mass., July 17 and 18: 



1. The essential thing in controlling the blister rust is to get out all Ribes. 

 The most efifective time for doing this is in the early spring, and this part of the 

 season should be used for rescouting control areas. 



2. It is not feasible to spend time and money in scouting and eradicating dis- 

 eased pine in New England, except where there may be outbreaks of the disease 

 in new territory. 



3. The establishment of control areas, in which all Ribes, both wild and culti- 

 vated, shall be eradicated as far as possible, is regarded as the most practicable 

 means of limiting the ravages of white pine blister rust ; and owners of pine 

 woods are urged to co-operate with State authorities to control the disease in 

 their several localities. 



4. In the expenditure of funds appropriated for blister-rust work, the con- 

 ference approved: (a) The method of direct State experimental areas to deter- 

 mine the cost of control by means of the eradication of wild and domestic Ribes 

 under various conditions; and (b) Such co-operation with private owners as will 

 give expert direction or supervision to their work. 



5. Localities established as control areas should be scouted at least four suc- 

 cessive years for Ribes. 



6. Men inspecting should be required to carry whisk brooms and to brush their 

 entire clothing with these after dipping them into disinfectant when circumstances 

 require; also thoroughly to wash their hands and arms. 



Discussion at the conference made it clear that in the generally in- 

 fected New England territory, inspectors should not be required to 

 wear a special uniform which has to be sterilized frequently. One 

 objection to this is that such a suit would have to be sterilized many 

 times each day, possibly 30 or 40 times, causing inconvenience and 

 great delay. An even inore important consideration, however, is the 

 danger of poisoning, or at least of severe skin irritation, by the strong 

 antiseptics used, and this risk does not appear to be warranted by the 

 conditions in New England. Also, it has been found that the anti- 

 septic which is most highly recommended, corrosive sublimate solution, 

 will not penetrate into the interior of spore masses because of the 

 film of air surrounding them. Strong ammonia water not only pene- 

 trates spore masses readily, but is an efifective agent in devitalizing 

 the spores. Inspectors are most likely to carry the spores on their 

 hands and arms. By keeping their shirt sleeves rolled back when ex- 

 aming Ribes, it is a simple and harmless operation to first wet the 



