210 



It is a mistake to say that forest management will eradicate 

 blight. It will eradicate most other diseases, insects, and so 

 forth, but it does not affect the blight. 



Utilization is the real issue; the practical use of the lumber, 

 and that is in the hands of those who own chestnut timber. The 

 present is yours. You have the chestnut timber as it is ; tomor- 

 row, next generation, you may have it not. Be business like and 

 stand for your own rights. The opinion of one man may be 

 worth a thousand times the opinion of another. You see that 

 in every walk of life. Take the opinion of hardheaded, scien- 

 tific men, who know about this trouble, just as you would the 

 opinions of hardheaded business men. I thank you for your at 

 t en tion. ( Applause ) . 



THE CHAIRMAN: If there is no objection, a statement 

 prepared by Dr. Murrill upon "Questions for Scientific Inves- 

 tigation/" handed in to the desk a few minutes ago, will be 

 including in the proceedings, together with his personal views. 



The paper submitted is a follows: 



QUESTIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION. 



1. The viability of the spores, both summer and winter forms. 



2. The vitality of the mycelium in the bark and wood. 



3. The vitality of sprouts and their bearings on the ques- 

 tion. 



4. The food of the fungus; .the decomposition of tannin by 

 ferments. 



5. Distribution. A large subject, involving experiments and 

 observations over wide areas and dealing with winds, rain, 

 insects, birds and their migration, squirrels, the transportation 

 of wood, railway ties; rate and direction of distribution; nur- 

 sery stock; trees in foreign countries; effects of coppicing. 



6. Origin. Nothing is known at present. Is it native or for- 

 eign? Why was it unknown until recently, and then why so 

 violent? 



7. Will it attack other trees besides species of chestnut? 

 Much depends on this. Trees nearest the chestnut should be 

 used for experiment. 



