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THE CHAIRMAN: For the Dominion of Canada, the -Chair 

 will call on Dr. H. T. Gussow, of Ottawa, the Dominion Botanist. 



DR. GUSSOW: Mr. Chairman: On behalf of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture of the Dominion of Canada, I am here to 

 thank you for your very great courtesy in asking us to partici- 

 pate iii this very important meeting. I may say that, as far as 

 we are concerned in Canada, we have not this dreaded disease at 

 the present time, and we have been very anxious to avoid the im- 

 portation of it across the border, by passing stringent legislative 

 measures prohibiting the importation of chestnuts of any kind, 

 nursery stock or even chestnut wood, or anything else connected 

 with chestnuts. I find that this will probably be the only means 

 to restrict the disease to the States in which it is found at the 

 present moment, and I can only extend to you, neighbors of the 

 United States, my best wishes to succeed in combating, or at 

 least, restricting this very serious disease. 



THE CHAIRMAN : Are there other States represented who 

 have been passed over? Are there any States we have not heard 

 from? 



MR. J. W. FISHER, of Tennessee: Mr. Chairman, we are 

 very greatly interested in this subject, because we have such a 

 marvelous growth of chestnut in Tennessee. It is receiving very 

 considerable attention at the present time from the axemen, for 

 lumber and tannic acid. It has a vital connection with our water 

 sources, because it covers the area so completely that if it were 

 destroyed, it would vitally affect vast water powers and irriga- 

 tion. We are therefore, extremely interested that you, in your 

 deliberations, should find some means of checking this disease, 

 that we may have our forests preserved to us. I shall take a great 

 deal of pleasure in reporting whatever I can to our Governor, 

 Hon. Benjamin Hooper, whom I have known for years a'nd who 

 comes from our town, so I think I am in an attitude to bring the 

 attention of the State to this matter, and I shall be extremely 

 glad to do so. 



THE CHAIRMAN : Are there still other States represented, 

 who have not been heard from? A number of delegates are ex- 

 pected in later in the day. You will all agree with the Chair 



