88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



burning was severe the needles were unable to recover, and 

 gradually died. Another explanation is that the sapwood of the 

 trunk becomes injured during the winter, due probably to an 

 alternate freezing and thawing at exposed points of the trunk. 

 If the tree has been weakened in any way it would be more 

 susceptible to this winter injury. The latter causes the death 

 of a portion of the sapwood, thereby producing a partial short- 

 age of the supply of water from the roots to the top. This 

 however, is not sufficient to affect the tree until very hot 

 weather sets in, at which time the full supply of water is neces- 

 sary for the needs of the tree. The result is a browning or 

 dying of the needles. 



A few trees die from the effects of this trouble, but most of 

 them recover their normal condition after a year or two. No 

 known method of treatment can be suggested which will help 

 in any way to relieve this trouble. 



A fungous disease of pine known as Phoma (Fusicoccum) sp. 

 has been observed in various parts of the State, but it never 

 becomes very serious except locally. It is often mistaken for 

 the blister rust, which it resembles very much in some stages, 

 and is usually found on low, moist ground. If occurring on 

 high ground, the diseased trees are generally present in gullies 

 or depressions, where they receive the wash from adjoining 

 slopes. The disease attacks the bark, girdling small trees near 

 the base and killing them, but seems to have very little or no 

 effect upon large trees. The diseased bark becomes black, 

 sunken and constricted. Small black pycnidia are formed, 

 which produce spores capable of infecting other trees. 



Other States which are affected with the blister rust have 

 taken active steps during the past year to learn the exact con- 

 ditions of this disease within their borders. In so far as was 

 possible they have attempted to eliminate diseased pines and 

 Ribes, and to co-operate with neighboring States in the work. 

 Further concerted efforts to control this disease are to be pur- 

 sued actively by the various States concerned and by the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture during the coming year. 



If further work in the control of the blister rust is carried 

 on next year it is extremely important and advisable that some 



