161 



one-fifth of tli(^ clu'stmit, is of incrcluiiitjibh; size and perhaps, 

 ill the district where the disease is, more tliaii four-fifths is undei* 

 merchantable size. 



MK. FISHER: Does it not appear that the several years of 

 scant rainfall which the whole eastern country has endured, to- 

 gether with frequent fires in this young timber, is not this pos- 

 sibly one of the greatest sources of the disease? 



MR. BARRUS : I believe that is a question touching on the 

 technical and scientific side, and perhaps Professor Clinton 



THE CHAIRMAN : As we are confined to State reports now, 

 we will ask Mr. Fisher kindly to let that question go nntil Tve get 

 into general discussion. The next is the State of New Jerse3^ 



DR. MELVILLE T. COOK : Mr. Chairman. I regret that 

 the State Forester of New Jersey is not present. I have been in 

 the State only a short time, and so cannot speak first hand. 

 However, as most of you know, the State of New Jersey, being 

 close to that point where the disease is supposed to have origi- 

 nated in this country, has suffered probably more than any other 

 State, in proportion to its area and the amount of standing chest- 

 nut. The disease lias swept through the State (excepting the 

 southern part), and has proved extremely destructive. We have 

 no special appropriation for the study of the disease or for fight- 

 ing it, and I believe that you Avill all agree with me that such 

 a campaign as is being carried on in the State of Pennsylvania 

 would be absolutely impossible in the State of New Jersey at the 

 present time. We are, however, continuing our scientific investi- 

 gation, so far as possible, and wiierever we receive inquiries from 

 farmers who are timber owners, reporting the disease present 

 on their properties, we advise them to turn their chestnut into 

 ca^h as quickly as possible, and to clean up as tlioroughly as pos- 

 sible. We also advise persons contemplating planting chestnut 

 not to do so. We also advise the nurserymen to discontinue 

 handling chestnut stock at the present time. So far as possible, 

 we are, stimulating the market by advising builders to use the 

 chestnut for interior trimmiuGrs. 



I cannot say anything more in regard to our campaign in 

 New Jersey, However, I ^dsh to give just one or two observa- 



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