PREFACE. 



OBJECTS. 



The primary objects of the investigations were (1) to determine 

 the cause, or causes, of a prevailing unhealthy condition of tlie spruce 

 in certain sections of tlie forests of Maine, New Hampshire, and Ver- 

 mont, and to study the prevailing influences found to be favorable or 

 unfavorable to the continuance or spread of the trouble; and (2) to 

 determine, if possible, some practical method by which the owners 

 of the timber could prevent or mitigate the great losees of valuable 

 timber from this cause. 



It is aimed in this report to give a popular account of the investi- 

 gations and the principal results, with recommendations of such 

 methods of prevention or control as seem practical. 



The details of a teclinical nature, relating to results of more inter- 

 est to the entomological student or investigator, will be reserved for 

 a special report on this i^liase of tlie subject. It is hoped tliat this 

 popular discussion will be of interest and value to the student and 

 investigator of economic forestr^^ problems, as well as to the practical 

 forester and luniberman. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



Before proceeding further I wish to express my acknowledgments 

 to all those wlio liave in any way given encouragement and assistance 

 in this work, among whom the following deserve special mention: 

 The executive committee of the regents of the West Virginia Univer- 

 sity and the director of the experiment station, for the necessary 

 leave of absence; the Berlin Mills Company, through its i^resident, 

 Mr. W. W. Brown, and vice-president, H. J. Brown, for furnishing 

 transportation and guide from Colebrook, N. H., across the State to 

 the steamboat landing on the Magalloway River in Maine, and with 

 guides and other facilities during my stay in the spruce woods of the 

 Androscoggin drainage north of the Rangeley Lakes; to the Parma- 

 cheenee Club, through its vice-president, Mr. Henry P. Wells, and 

 manager, Mr. J. A. Dunning, for accommodations at Camp Caribou 

 and use of the Forks, Moosebog, Barkers Lake, and Lower Black 

 camps, together with other favors extended; and finally to Mr. Austin 

 Gary, wlio, as expert forester to the Berlin Mills Company, rendered 

 most valuable service through his special knowledge of the Maine 

 woods and the conditions in different sections most desirable to visit 

 for investigation. 



A. D. Hopkins. 



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