218 



Here is one benefit of the Chestnut Blight Commission's work. 

 They propose to cut down the infected trees. It may not stop 

 the blight, but one thing it will do. If they burn the stumps, 

 it will produce the best possible new condition for the manag- 

 ing of that forest. Even if the blight does come back on the 

 sprouts, you can work on the sprouts and cut them off the second 

 time, if necessary. You can also spray the young growth with 

 iime-sulphur solution for the fungus, and apply some other 

 solution to be discovered for the borers. It will also teach us 

 the true value of chestnut wood. 



I think our chances of controlling the disease are good. I do 

 not say or believe that we are going to kill it entirely, because, 

 to my knowledge, no spore diseases have ever been completely 

 eradicated. We still have the black-knot with us, as well as 

 tlie peach-yellows, but they are now both so well controlled 

 that we have almost forgotten them. 



We may be able to check the blight to such an extent that 

 nature will be able to supply a means to tlirow off the disease 

 in due time, especially if we aid her by killing the borers and 

 limiting the supply of spores. So, again I say, I believe the 

 Cliestnut Blight Commission is on the right track, and my 

 forest preserve is open to any man interested in this work. 



My address is E. A. Weimer, Lebanon, Pa., and I will say 

 to any man who comes to Lebanon, I will show him all I can; 

 every condition of forestry that has developed on my tracts 

 from over twenty-four years of practice. (Applause). 



PROFESSOK COLLINS : The statement was made that this 

 specimen in the bottle had been sealed for three and a half 

 years, and the spores are still alive, as I understood it. I think 

 Mr. Weimer forgot to tell how he knew they are alive. 



MR. WEIMER : You can see in the lower part here (exhibit- 

 ing bottle), that the spores have become very active. They 

 retain their red color, whereas, up here where they are dead 

 or dormant, they turned black, and have fallen off. I think 

 that is the best indication that I can offer. These indications 

 were thought good enough for my purpose. 



PROFESSOR COLLINS : I think the observations would be 



