238 



W'oodlots, ran.i;iiiji' in size Iroiii a lew acres u]) to several hun- 

 dred aeres. The soil is jxtor tlieic and rocky, and i;e(s poorer 

 in qualitj closer to the mountain. The stands are in about the 

 same condition as the eastern portion of the park, except where 

 some cutting lias been done, and liere the brush and growth of 

 forest weeds is ver^- dense. The chestnut runs from 20 per cent. 

 to 40 per cent, of the stand, and chestnut oak is present together 

 ^\'ith red, black, and wliite oaks. 



In direct contrast with the condition found in this portion 

 of Sylvan Dell Park is the condition observed on the Fish and 

 Game Preserve owned by the Jay Cooke Estate. Tliis property 

 is several hundred acres in extent but only about one hundred 

 acres have been inspected. This ])ortion of the tract is located 

 four miles uortlieast fi-oni NN'aterville in Cunnnings township, 

 in the west-central part of Lycoming county. The timber is 

 fully !H) per cent, chestnut and is a clea)i, thrifty young pole 

 stand averaging six to ten inches in diamter, with 250 trees to 

 the acre. On less than live acres fully thirty trees were found 

 to be infected with blight. The characteristic persistent leaves 

 of last summer were ])resent in every case, but pustules were 

 visible only at a height of ten to twelve feet. As was stated, 

 the trees are unusually healthy and thrifty in appearance and 

 no signs of insect work were found. This center is, at the pres- 

 ent time, the most northwesterly infection known. 



The map accompanying this report gives the relative size of 

 the tracts, and shows approximately the centers of infection by 

 a cross in a circle. The numerals indicate the number of trees 

 in the center. 



The most typical center or spot infection was found on the 

 southwest corner of the Hamm tract (see map). There is tim- 

 ber all around this point, except on the west and northwest. 

 On the west it is cut over, and a young second growth of .saplings 

 is present, while on the northwest is a cleared field. The real 

 center of this spot was a large tree about sixteen inches in diam- 

 eter, infected from top to bottom. The bark was fairly ])lastered 

 with pustules and all of the young saplings (of which there 

 were three or four growing from the base), were badly infected. 

 It seems reasonable to suppose that this infection has been 

 present for two or three years. 



