39 



answer as best we can : What are we going to do about it? That 

 is the question. Three conditions lie open before us, as we see it : 



First: Do nothing; lie down and let the disease spread as far 

 as it will, and destroy as much property as it can. It must be 

 acknowledged that there is ample precedent for this course, as 

 well as ample scientific support. Beyond question, this is the 

 easiest thing to do. 



Second: Conduct scientific investigations of the disease, but 

 make no attempt to control the disease until these investigations 

 yield conclusive results. Such a course would unquestionably 

 yield resulis which would bo valuable in future epidemics of dis- 

 ease, but it would noi save the chestnut trees at this time. The 

 President of the Carnegie Institution, in a recent address, enun- 

 ciated the principle that the results of scientific research must 

 be stated in decades, not in years. We must investigate the dis- 

 ease as thoroughly as possible, but investigation alone, without 

 application, will not save the trees. 



Third: Investigate as thoroughly as possible, devote as much 

 money as possible to research on the fundamental problems re- 

 lating to the disease, but, at the same time, put into force im- 

 mediately whatever measures against the disease appear to be 

 most promising, recognizing clearly that there is not time first to 

 prove absolute efficiency. I am informed that, as an immediate 

 result of the recent burning of the Equitable Building in New 

 York city, a special commission was appointed to devise .better 

 methods of fighting fires in the congested business section of New 

 York. The appointment of the commission was necessary and 

 will unquestionably yield excellent future results; but I notice 

 that the New York Fire Department, went ahead and did its best 

 to put out the Equitable Building fire, without waiting for the re- 

 ports of any commissions. It appears to me that we are in much 

 the same situation. The fire is burning too fast for us to wait for 

 the reports of experiments which will take from two to ten years 

 time to carry out. We must go ahead, using the best methods 

 that we have, and leave the results to the future. (Applause). 



THE CHAIRMAN: I am sure everyone Avill agree that this 

 talk has been both instructive and interesting, and we are par- 

 ticularly indebted to Professor Collins for stepping in at the 

 eleventh hour, as he has done, and favoring us so generously. 



