10 July. 1917. J Ui^tnse in Plan,: Titcs. 443 



REPORT OF CONFERENCE RE DISEASE ATTACKING 



PLANE TREES.* 



A Conference of experts, convened by the lion, the Minister of 

 Lands, to discuss the matter of the disease tliat has lately attacked the 

 Plane trees in various jiarts of the State, was licld at tlio Board Kooni 

 of the Lands Dopartiiieiit on 21st February, 1!)I7. 



The response to tlie invitations issued by the Minister was most 

 satisfactory, representatives of over thirty municipalities throughout 

 the State, most of whom were practical horticulturists, being in attend- 

 ance, in addition to officers of various Government Departments who 

 are specialists in the classification, cultivation, and health of trees and 

 other vcffpta'tion. 



Mr. Ilutcliinson, in opening the Conference, expressed his pleasure 

 at the very ])ractical manner in which the various bodies interested had 

 replied to his note, and his belief that the deliberations of the Confer- 

 ence would be productive of benefit by recommending means for com- 

 bating the new and destructive disea.se — Glisoxporium nervisequum — 

 tliat was affecting Plane trees, and was causing much anxiety to all 

 lovers of trees. lie referred to the damage already 'caused by the 

 disease in certain ])laces, and considered that early and very definite 

 action should be taken to check its ravages and spread. As President 

 of the Board of Land and Works, Mr. Hutchinson thought the matter 

 was sufficiently important to warrant his invitation to the Conference, 

 and consideration of this very serious trouble, to municipalities and 

 other bodies who were interested in the cultivation of trees. 



Mr. J. Harris, Chairman of the Metropolitan Parks and Gardens 

 Cnuimittee, was elected chairman of the Conference, on the motion of 

 tlie Hon. the Minister. 



Mr. J. M. Reed, Secretary for Lauds, explained that he and the 

 Curator of the Botanic Gardens, in conjunction with Mr. W. Laidlaw, 

 Biologist, and Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, Vegetable Pathologist to the 

 Department of Agriculture, had discussed the matter in order to be 

 able to submit .something definite on which to base the Conference, 

 and secure the best experience and knowledge bearing on the disease, 

 and the most effective means and remedies for its control. He re- 

 quested Mr. Cronin to act as departmental secretary to the Conference, 

 and also expressed the belief that the capacity of the representatives 

 jiresent was such that means would be evolved to cope with the trouble. 



The Chairman stated that the Plane tree was undoubtedly one of 

 the finest trees known, and was essentially a suitable tree for planting 

 ill streets. 



Letters were read from Bear-Admiral Bridges, who has had ex- 

 perience of the disease, and from Mr. J. Blackburn, late of the 

 Department of Forests, and Mr. T. W. Pockett, Curator of Malvern 

 Gardens, respecting the probable causes of the disease. 



Messrs. Cronin, Laidlaw, Brittlebank, and Professor Ewart ex- 

 plained their knowledge of the disease, its nature and history, its 

 ramifications throtighout Victoria, and its sudden appearance in the 



* Issued by the Lands Uepartment and reprinted here by permission of the Secretary for Lands. 



