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methods of fighting this blight is to preserve the birds and par- 

 ticularly the woodpeckers, which destroy these borers. I have 

 before me sections of branches that have been bored by insects 

 and woodpeckers having been taken out, showing their beneficial 

 work. It appears to me, then, that the impression should be 

 corrected as to the possibility of preventing the spread of the 

 germs by destroying woodpeckers. Preserve the woodpeckers 

 and other insectivorous birds and prevent the spread of the in- 

 fection. (Applause) 



DR. MUERILL: Mr. Chairman: I have been accused of 

 using "pre-Convention methods." I had no intention whatever 

 of that purpose. I am riot a politician at all. When I got back 

 from the Pacific Coast I found there had been a Convention or a 

 Conference, in Albany, and I found that New York State, my 

 own State, had made certain recommendations for an appropria- 

 tion. I deemed that unwise, that is, to ask for a large appropria- 

 tion, so I immediately took steps to write to the Governor and 

 to write to some of the representatives and I took the matter up, 

 entirely as a citizen of New York State. It was my duty to the 

 State. Later I heard something about an appropriation in the 

 Legislature of Virginia, my native State, and at once took the 

 matter up with the Governor of that State. It is a copy of this 

 letter which the speaker before (Mr. Williams) had for discus- 

 sion. 



As to sitting down and doing nothing, for twenty years I have 

 been working on diseases of trees. For the last seven years 

 I have known this fungus. Immediately when I found it, when 

 the affected trees were shown me by Mr. Merkel, 1 began the 

 most industrious investigation of it, and I venture to say that 

 many of those present have been guided to a knowledge of it 

 through my extensive correspondence on the subject. 



Now for a programme, I have that also. I do not believe in 

 butting our heads against a wall and wasting the public money 

 uselessly. I believe in carrying on investigations a little fur- 

 ther and, if possible, in finding some rational method, so that 

 we can use our funds to much better advantage. I should say, 

 keep in touch with the disease in every stage; survey and locate 

 it, but do not locate it with reference to eradication, because I 

 deem that impossible. Devote this year, at least, to scientific in- 



