147 



sliowii thai wIkmi 11 roicsi liic jiiiii|»s \(»iii- lire line. \(tii jniii]i on 

 it \\liil(' it js little :iim1 slaiiq) it oiil rallici' lliaii let it run while 

 you devise a tiicorelieally .sound method of allarU. 



^Ve are indebted to the two gentlenu'u who have had the coni- 

 age lo come here and tell us that we didn't know. \\ <■ don't 

 know, r.ut at least let us exert ourselves to the extent of avei-- 

 a^c insurance cost. >N'e don't kuo^v, but in'ither do the courage- 

 cms Messrs. Stewart ami Clinton. Their objections savor largely 

 on the tem[ieraniental. J-'or example, Trofessor ("lint<»n t(dls 

 ns that he thinks drought and other clinnitic causes may be i-e- 

 sponsible. This is very reasonable, but it is astonishing thai 

 th(^ gentleman did not bring soniethiug that was at least near- 

 evideiue. If drought is the promoting factor, there have be«'n 

 abundant (ti>p<tr(nnities to compare trees that were in dilTerent 

 i«elations with respect to water. Conuecticut, with its many 

 infestations of blight has given great opportunity to tind chest- 

 nut trees languishing for water on rocky, sandy, shaly, and other- 

 wise very dry knolls. These could be compared Avith trees grow- 

 ing near water tables, in moist coves, below mill races, and in 

 other moist locations. Such comparisons would be in the nature 

 of proof f(»r what is otherwise an entirely unproved theoretical 

 suggestion. .Mi'. Stewart opposed the cutting-out ])lan, men- 

 tioning as evidence the fact that Metcalf and Collins had cut 

 <.nt an infestation and two years later the stumps showed a fun- 

 gus and six trees nearby had the blight. "Would it not be better 

 to note that, after informal and experimental cutting out, only 

 six trees had blight? Mr. Stewart also mentions as a cause for 

 despair the fact that an outbreak at I'oiitella. \'a., had been go- 

 ing since 11)03. A ^'irginia report states that this outbreak has 

 in that time s]»re;nl to about an acre of W(»o(llaiid. 



A Lcsso)) From iho l^tiii Josr l^calr. 



This miserable little bug with an nndu'ella on his back had 

 ns scared nearly to death ten years ago because he killed our 

 fruit trees so mercilessly. Now any farmer can lurn him into 

 soap and kee|» his oichard clean, and the scientists are now tell- 

 iiiii us to <x(> at the chestnut blight ; ouh there is this ditVerem-e 



