THE WHITE-PINE BLISTER RUST. 15 



seem necessary in order to completely control this disease. The 

 work for this reason has been greatly hampered and in many cases 

 has not been carried out as it should have been. Many people have 

 not realized the seriousness of this trouble, and unanimous action 

 could not be secured. It is absolutely necessary that the State 

 officers have complete power to enforce such measures as are needful 

 for the control of this disease or their work will fail, just as it has 

 failed up to this time. 



PRESENT STATUS OF THE WHITE-PINE BLISTER RUST. 



During the years 1909 to 1914, inclusive, the white-pine blister 

 rust has been held well in control, considering the circumstances 

 under which the work was carried on. In this period eleven distinct 

 outbreaks of this disease occurred; that is, there were eleven differ- 

 ent places where the disease spread from pines to adjacent currants 

 or gooseberries. In these places the disease has been nearly or 

 entirely eradicated. In 1915 the weather conditions were so favor- 

 able for the growth of the parasite that it spread very readily on 

 currants and gooseberries for relatively long distances. In 1915 

 alone twelve distinct new outbreaks occurred. The areas infected 

 vary in extent from only a few currant or gooseberry bushes up to 

 a single area of some 400 or 500 square miles. Unless very energetic 

 action is taken to control the disease at once, it will shortly become 

 impossible to do so. 



NEED FOR ADEQUATE STATE LAWS. 



As above indicated, there are a number of areas where this disease 

 has spread upon wild and cultivated currants and gooseberries. It 

 is entirely possible to stop its further spread by the mere removal of 

 all wild and cultivated currants and gooseberries within the infected 

 areas. The actual carrying out. of this work is not as difficult as is 

 much of the work which is being done in the effort to hinder the 

 spread of other diseases and pests. In carrying on this removal of 

 currants and gooseberries, however, it is absolutely necessary that 

 unanimous action be taken throughout the infected areas. Federal 

 officers have no power to destroy private property in any State. This 

 power is given solely to certain State officers, usually known as State 

 horticultural inspectors. In most cases these State officers do not 

 have power sufficient to compel unanimous action in such removal 

 of currants and gooseberries. This power is one which every State 

 should give to her proper officer at once if this work is to be efficiently 

 done, and if such power is not thus given, this serious disease of white 

 pines is certain to escape beyond any possible control and cause 

 irreparable damage. 



WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1916 



