' 92 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Our first infected tree was left standing until March and then 

 cut out below ground and burned. The tree was a small one about 

 fifteen feet high. It stood in a twenty acre mixed plantation about 

 one-fifth of which is chestnut. Mr. Collins who is Dr. Metcalf's 

 associate in this chestnut disease work examined the first tree 

 before it was cut out and has since made frequent inspections and 

 has kept a careful record of all cases with the circumstances attend- 

 ing each. 



The following summer a second case developed about one hundred 

 yards from the original infection. This was promptly cut out 

 and burned in the same manner. A suspicious looking clump of 

 chestnut sucker growth was also disposed of in the same way. This 

 had sprung up from the stump of a tree which had been thinned 

 out the year previous in the same general location. This week a 

 third and fourth case have appeared. The third case was also 

 about one hundred yards from the first tree infected but in an oppo- 

 site direction. This makes three cases in three seasons in a twenty 

 acre plantation, one-fifth chestnut. This does not look so bad and 

 if we do not succeed in keeping it out entirely we may hope, at 

 least, as Dr. Metcalf has said, to greatly retard its action. 



The fourth case we regard more seriously because it developed on 

 one of our large trees in the regular chestnut group, one-half mile 

 distant from the other cases on the mixed plantation. Fortunately 

 the infection occurred only on a side limb twenty feet from the 

 ground. The point of infection was three feet out from the main 

 stem and no other signs of the disease could be found on any other 

 part of the tree or on any of the other trees in the group. The 

 infected limb was cut out and burned as soon as discovered. 



All the diseased parts of the third case in the mixed plantation 

 are here on the table. After this afternoon's discussion with the 

 aid of the publications suggested and the fresh material at hand 

 showing one and two year cankers in winter condition no one 

 should have much difficulty in locating the chestnut bark disease. 



The first step, as I have said, is to get familiar with the disease. 

 Everyone connected with the Arboretum knows what the disease 

 is and is watching for it all the time. 



The second thing is to make a thorough inspection of all chestnut 

 growths old or young. One canker discovered now will be equiva- 



