13i 



tlie your can peel six stuDii)s 10 to 15 Indies in diameter in an 

 lionr. Tliat is a conservative figure. 



It is the policy of the Commission to nse every possible means 

 of securing the co-operation of owners in cutting infected tim- 

 ber, before resorting to their power under the law. The power 

 that the law gives the Commission is sufficient to insure respect 

 for its powers, but Ave realize that the law alone is not sullicient 

 to make the plan of controlling this disease etfective unless it 

 is backed by strong public sentiment in its favor. This is being 

 accomplished b}^ educating the public to recognize the symptoms 

 of the disease and to realize its serious character through h'c- 

 tnres, tiehl iiieeliiigs, ciiTulars, newspaper articles, and otiier 

 work of an educational nature, such as interesting scliool chil- 

 dren and boy scouts in the movement. So far, no serious oppo- 

 sition has been met with in the work of eradication; on the con- 

 trar}', we have had exceptional co-operation from all classes 

 of timber owners. 



The Commission maintains a laboratory for determining 

 doubtful infections, and for conducting experiments in the con- 

 trol of the disease through the nse of sprays, fertilizers, and juedi- 

 cations. The Commission is giving an imj)artial trial to the many 

 remedies submitted, to determine their effectiveness. These* ex- 

 ]»eriments are being pushed forward as rapidly as may be done, 

 bill no remedy will be endorsed by the Commission until its 

 (ilHciency has been demonstrated beyond all doubt. Most of those 

 submitting remedies for the blight have in miiul the size of our 

 a])propriation rather than the i)racticability and elliciency of 

 their remedies to the public. 



The Commission keenly realizes its responsibility to the ]>nb- 

 lic for the jiroper expenditure of the funds placed at its dis]»osaI. 

 Yesterday's ])roceedings of the conference emphasized the great 

 need for comprehensive scientific investigation into all jihases 

 of the blight problem. It is only by finding out all the facts 

 relative to the disease that we can hope to eradicate it, and it 

 is evident that many scientific facts of practical imi)ortance are 

 still unknown. I'or instance, it has not yet been definitely deter- 

 mined what agents are of primary importance in distributing the 

 s]K>res, or to Avliat extent the disease may be s]H'e;ul by the 



