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advice that looks toward the protection of the natural interests 

 of the State. So the State of New Jersey greets the Convention 

 here to-day with honest hopes that something may be accom- 

 plished which will advance the public interest and welfare. 



THE CHAIRMAN : New York. 



GEOEGE G. ATWOOD: Mr. Chairman, the State of New 

 York appreciated very highly the honor extended by the invita- 

 tion of the Governor to be here to-day, so as many as possible of 

 the delegation accepted with pleasure. We are here to-day to 

 learn something in order to perfect a plan that has been brew- 

 ing in New York State. New York State has a large chestnut 

 area to save. We have a small section of the State where the 

 chestnuts are practically gone. Arrangements are being per- 

 fected for carrying on the work under the advice of the botanists 

 of our stations, and we hope soon to have a forest plant patholo- 

 gist, working either with the Department of Agriculture or with 

 the Conservation Commission. The Governor of the State is very 

 much interested in this proposition. We are w r aiting for some 

 definite plan, which will be taken hold of as quickly as it can 

 be devised, and as thoroughly as the necessities of the case re r 

 quire. 



THE CHAIRMAN: North Carolina. (No response). 

 Ohio. 



DR. AUGUSTINE D. SELBY: Mr. Chairman, Ohio is very 

 much interested in this Conference, because Ohio "lies in the 

 western part of the Appalachian chestnut belt, and, as State 

 Pathologist, the problems of the chestnut bark disease would be- 

 come our laboratory and field problems. As yet we are not aware 

 that the disease exists in Ohio, although it may be so ; but we are 

 perfectly aware that our success is indissolubly bound up with 

 the success of Pennsylvania and the states to the east of it. If 

 Pennsylvania, either by reason of a natural change in conditions 

 by which the parasite of this chestnut bark disease becomes less 

 virulent, or by the trees becoming more resistant, is not able to 

 save a portion of its chestnut growth, then Ohio will not be. If, 

 on the other hand, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, as well as 

 New York, are able to save their trees from the wrecking of this 

 disease, then Ohio will realize the advantages of such a Confer- 



