No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 555 



spread by means of spores carried by various means. There is this, 

 however, that is hopeful — wherever you find infection, you will find 

 other trees nearby where infection has not started. It does not 

 march ahead like a column of soldiers, but goes forward and attacks 

 in spots. 



The Department is doing what it can, as already said, and only 

 the future can tell what the result of their efforts will be. Whether 

 it will be successful or unsuccessful we are not able to predict at 

 this time. Suppose it be unsuccessful. We will thon have the satis- 

 faction of knowing that Pennsylvania v>^as the only state with the 

 courage to stand up and say in the face of the invasion of this dis- 

 ease, that she would not be indiiferent about it, but would do what 

 she could to prevent the destruction of one of her most valuable 

 forest trees. If it be a failure, the whole moral effect of the effort 

 will be of lasting benefit to the State. 



Here is a piece of chestnut which I brought from Long Island in 

 the summer of 1909. This you may handle with impunity, without 

 danger of carrying the spores. In handling it, 3'ou will notice how 

 punky it is. That is the result of the disease. As you go across 

 the State this summer you will notice trees w^holly or partly killed 

 by this disease. 



Now, the thing for Pennsylvania to do is to recognize fully that 

 this thiug is among us, and if there is anything to be done to protect 

 the State, it must be done at once; not five years from now, but 

 immediately. 



I think I may say one thing more, and that is, that a joint meet- 

 ing of the representatives of some twenty states is called to meet 

 in Harrisburg the latter part of next month to consider this new 

 situation. The problem is much more serious in the states south of 

 us than it is with us, although we are vitally interested; and it is 

 hoped from this meeting there will result a uniform plan of attack 

 among the states where the disease is active. 



ADDRESS OP DR. N. C. SCHAEFFER 



I really have no speech. I enjoyed associating with the farmers, 

 and during this week I have been "Avith the farmer" all the time. 



If anything interests me, it is carrying agriculture into the public 

 school. The thing that surprised me a little was, that that particu- 

 lar topic did not appear on the program, because I wish you could 

 have had a chance to discuss it. By this I mean that there will be 

 an expert in agricultural education connected with the Department 

 of Public Instruction, and he will be able to talk with some authority. 



I always come to this meeting when I can. I grew up a farmer, 

 but my father early discovered that I would not be worth a copper 

 as a farmer, and he allowed me to be a school master, but in my latter 

 days I see what I missed in not studying what would make the farm 

 attractive. 



I happen to own a tract of chestnut timber that belonged to my 

 father. I have never seen it; it is in Berks county. I also own a 

 farm near Reading, which also belonged to him. I consider it a very 

 profitable investment, because whenever anything has to be bought 

 for the farm, I pay for it out of my salary, and whenever anything 

 is sold. I put it down as profit. 



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