I road the title of tlio suVcct assigned to 

 ne for tho talk I was to give you at thio meeting, I trans- 

 lated, it into tho question: "What in the world is a Forest 

 Pathologist good for, anyway?" You aro right in asking 

 tho ruostion; practical Forest Pathology is really still in 

 its very "beginning. It tool; many yoars of unceasing and 

 devoted, purely sciontific work before wo could think of 

 applying tho rocults to IPorostry, and oven at tho present 

 time, there are vast and practically virgin fields loft 

 for technical studios, 



The war wagod in the Sact against tho Ghestnut 

 Bark Disease is a direct outcome of long and patient stud- 

 ios in the laboratory and in the field. You have heard of 

 the fungus pest that threatens to destroy sono 50 million 

 dollars worth of Chestnut trees. Eradicating end oven 

 chocking a disease of such serious character spread over an 

 onormous area is impossible Y/ithout very considerable fi- 

 nancial moans, and the Offioo of forest Pathology has, 

 therefore, tried, during tho last yoara, to interest Con- 

 gross in the matter. Too late for the fighting season of 

 1912, Congress has finally voted $80,000 for the purpose, 

 of which 10,000 go to Entomology. In spite of this delay 

 romarkablo work has treen done and wo may look forward to 

 splendid results in the luti-re. 



Another serious forest tree disease is being con- 



132 



