209 



.suggestions looking toward .s>nie practical oii Iconic of tlicsc 

 meetings. We, as wise men, should provide foe any contingency 

 that may arise in future years. If the chestnut tree is doomed, 

 then the fungus which attacks the chestnut tree is doomed with 

 it. My suggestion is this: That the Chestnut Blight Commis- 

 sion send to some out-of-the-way part of the world, where the 

 chestnut tree will grow, nuts whicii liave been thoroughly steri- 

 lized, with a suggestion that these nuts be grown under the 

 care of some forester; you might say in southern (iernumy, or 

 eastern (Germany, wherever they tliink proper, in case that the 

 American chestnut tree is exterminated by the chestnut blight 

 in America; so that we can draw upon that supply to re-forest 

 our hillsides and our slopes with our native chestnut tree. Just 

 as the nmn in the western states provides his shelter against 

 the cyclones, so we should provide a means of re-stocking our 

 forests with the chestnut tree, by sending these chestnuts to 

 some out of the way part of the world, which is immune, or 

 where the chestnut blight disease will i)ractically be cut otf from 

 reaching the chestnut trees. That is merely a suggestion, in 

 line with future operations connected with this Idight disease. 



THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair should have extended an 

 opportunity to Professor Murrill at once, after passing the reso- 

 lutions, for his statement. 



DR. MURRILL: Just a minute, and I will feel that my duty 

 will have been done: The State's programme, then, would be, 

 first, to survey, to locate, and keep in touch with the progress 

 of the disease, not a rigid inspection, but such an inspection as 

 the State Forester and State Pathologist could take charge of, 

 possibly with a slight appropriation. Second, await results of 

 scientific investigation for one year at least. We are having a 

 magnificent experiment here, one we are glad to have made 

 along scientific lines, and under the leadership of a Commission 

 above reproach in every way. Now, can we not wjut a year 

 and continue our experiments and then act upon the evidence 

 that we get from this year's work? 



Just a word to timber owners: Forest management is not 

 a cure for the chestnut blight. The chestnut blight is a good 

 feedt^'. The better the chestnut tree, the better it grows on it. 

 14 



