REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST FOR I92I 9 



becomes common, the chestnut blight apparently has not as yet pene- 

 trated to this region. 



In the Hudson valley and the foothills of the Catskill mountains the 

 destruction of the chestnut has been most complete. Practically all 

 chestnut trees have been killed at least in part. Most of the diseased 

 trees sprout again from the trunk or around the base of the trunk. 

 These shoots live a year or two, sometimes longer, and are in turn 

 infected by the disease and die. This persistency of sprout growth 

 on the blight-killed chestnut causes a constant recurrence of the 

 disease and renders distant and perhaps hopeless a time when, the 

 disease having run its course, new chestnut trees may be planted. 



In most sections where any care is taken of the woodlands the 

 dead chestnut trees are cut down and used for timber or firewood. 

 In consequence there is left in the woods a large void, since in many 

 places the forests and woodlands formerly contained from 15 to 20 

 per cent of chestnut, especially below 1000 feet altitude. 



Other trees have not been slow to take advantage of this change 

 and almost everywhere there is a vigorous growth of young oaks 

 (white, chestnut, red, scarlet and black). Left to nature the foresf 

 of this region in the future will be quite unlike those of former days. 



Some owners are planting white pine where the chestnut has been 

 killed and removed, which would be an excellent idea if we could 

 be sure that it in turn would not fall a prey to the white pine blister 

 rust. There is an abundance of wild gooseberry and currant in this 

 region to act as alternate hosts for the white pine blister rust. 



Scotch pine is apt to prove a more acceptable conifer for planting 

 in the region, and has many points of excellence to recommend its 

 use. It is free from any serious rust similar to that of the white 

 pine, it is less sensitive to ground fires which are numerous and 

 very destructive to white pine in the Hudson valley and Catskill 

 region and it will produce a better growth in mixtures with the 

 hardwoods than will white pine. 



Lectures. During 1921 the State Botanist has delivered twelve 

 lectures upon wild flowers and wild flower protection in various parts 

 of the State. 



Publications. The following articles on botany have been pub- 

 lished by the State Botanist, in journals devoted chiefly to botany: 



The Genus Aetopteron, Ehrhart. American Fern Journal, 10: 88-89. 1920 

 A Consideration of Certain Genera Proposed by JEhrhart. American Mid- 

 land Naturalist, 6: 200-7. 1920 



The Wild Flower Preservation Idea is one of Practical Value. Torreya, 

 21 : 17-22. 1921 



Conservation of Wild Flowers. Conservationist, 3: 119-21. 1920 

 Nomenclatorial Notes on Certain American Plants. I. American Midland 

 Naturalist, 7: 126-35. 1921 



