173 



mit of any extensive eradication, bnt we liope to use it in getting 

 a good survey of tlie damage which has already been done and to 

 get a basis for future recommendations. 



THE CHAIEMAN: Avo there any inquries regarding the 

 situation and methods in Virginia? The next State is West Vir- 

 ginia. 



PKOF. GIDDINGS: I will make my remarks brief, because 

 we have done but little in AVest Virginia in regard to it. So 

 far as we actually know, there were three infections in West 

 Virginia. Those were scattered through the State; one in the 

 central part, one in the northern part, and one fairly well south 

 in the State. One of them came from nursery stock. Tlie tree 

 was purchased from a nursery, set out by a lumber man, and he 

 discovered that there Avas sometiiing wrong. That tree has been 

 destroyed. One of the other diseased areas, in the nortliern 

 part of the State, we believe has been destroyed through lumber- 

 ing operations which have been going on there, as I understand 

 the infected trees couhl not be found last fall. We undoubtedly 

 have more of the disease, especially along tlie northern border 

 and near the Pennsylvania line, as there is considerable infection 

 in the southwestern portion of that State. We hope to get some 

 work done during the coming season. I know that a number 

 of interested parties will make a very strong effort to have at 

 least a small amount of careful work done in West Virginia to 

 determine the prevalence of the disease in certain sections of the 

 State. We cannot hope to do much, but our Legislature will 

 meet a year from now and if conditions warrant, there will, I 

 am sure, be no trouble in securing funds to continue the work. 

 The possible losses in West Virginia are considerable. I have 

 secured several estimates as to the chestnut stand in the State. 

 One firm which is reported as doing the largest lumbering busi- 

 ness in the State, dealing in timber land and well acquainted 

 with the subject, places the present stumpage at ten billion feet. 

 As proof and in su]>port of their statement, they gave me reliable 

 data in regard to the chestnut stand in some regions of the 

 State. A stumpage value of .'i?2.50 per thousand, which they 

 quoted, would make twenty-five million dollars for the chestnut 



