126 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY 



truding through the bark. These fruiting bodies are the only 

 part of the fungus visible to the naked eye, and usually occur 

 in the crevices of the bark. Often they may be seen near the 

 base of a mature tree, which to the observer appears otherwise 

 sound. These pustules are an unmistakable sign of the disease. 

 When the trees are in foliage, diseased individuals may be 

 recognized by their bare branches, or branches with partly 

 shriveled leaves or burrs. Frequently half a tree or a limb 

 here and there may be dead, and the remainder of the tree be 

 in full foliage. 



Another sign of the disease is the presence of thrifty one- 

 year sprouts on the trunks of fairly large trees. Usually on 

 close examination near or above these sprouts can be found a 

 spot with other characteristic symptoms. 



As yet no method of successfully combating the chestnut- 

 bark disease is known. When a tree in the forest is attacked it 

 is virtually doomed. In the case of valuable shade trees, cutting 

 out the infected parts has in some cases been successful. The 

 exposed face of the cutting must be covered with paint or tar. 

 If this is done and all infected spots are completely removed, 

 the tree may be saved. Such treatment is, of course, out of the 

 question in handling forests on account of the expense. The 

 fungus cannot be reached by spraying as it is protected by 

 the bark of the tree. Several pathologists who have studied its 

 ravages, predict the extermination of the chestnut unless some- 

 thing unforeseen stops the disease. 



If all the infected trees, in a section where the disease is just 

 beginning to spread, could be cut down and the brush and 

 infected bark burned, this evil might be checked in that locality, 

 but unfortunately all injured trees cannot be found. In a 

 forested region it is doubtful if any method will be successful. 



RED ROT (Trametes pini). 



Trametes pini is a fungus attacking practically all the impor- 

 tant conifers of New England; red and white spruce, white pine, 

 hemlock, larch and balsam. Von Schrenk considers larch most 



