23 



of it that is free, so it makes it a more active and important ques- 

 tion to us than to sections where the territory is entirely covered 

 with the disease. 



THE CHAIRMAN : Massachusetts. 



PROFESSOR F. W. RANE, State Forester: Mr. Chairman, 

 I was sent out here by Governor Foss. I had an opportunity 

 to have a conference with the Governor shortly before coming. 

 We had hoped to bring along some of our large timber owners, 

 but, at the last moment, it was impossible to make arrangements. 

 The Governor said it would be impossible for him to be here, but 

 urged me to extend his compliments to you by all means. In 

 Massachusetts we are just beginning to realize that the chestnut 

 bark disease is a very serious menace to us. During the past 

 year we have had a man from the Department of Agriculture 

 with us for three months, and I have had all my assistants in the 

 State Forestry Department out in the field hunting it down. We 

 find that it is scattered pretty much over the State. Our simple 

 remedies we send out by men that are with us, and we are always 

 ready to assist anybody in any part of the State with any sug- 

 gestions possible in regard to it; but I do not care to talk about 

 tli at at the present time. I am here to learn everything possible, 

 and am glad to be here, I assure you. 



THE CHAIRMAN: New Jersey. 



DR. MELVILLE T. COOK : Mr. Chairman, in the State of 

 New Jersey I find, although I have been there but a short time, 

 that those who have looked into the situation most carefully are 

 inclined to believe that, so far as the State is concerned, the situ- 

 ation is practically hopeless. Almost every chestnut growth in 

 the State is infected at the present time. We expect, of course, 

 to do some work in combating the chestnut blight, because we 

 will not give up until the chestnut timber is entirely destroyed. 

 While the majority of those who have been making a study of the 

 conditions over the State look upon the situation as hopeless, yet 

 we can say that there has some good come out of evil, because at 

 the present time the people are wike-awake to the importance of 

 the careful study of plant diseases. At the present time there 

 is no difficulty, whatever, in getting the people to listen to any 



