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The Blight on Chestnut Trees sight appear to be caused by some in- 

 sect or vegetable growth, are due to 



EDITOR CONSERVATION : some deterioration from causes unno- 

 The article in the November number ticed, which produce conditions pecu- 

 of CONSERVATION on "The Blight on Harly adapted to the growths of which 

 Chestnut Trees," by Prof. John Mickle- we complain. They are in the nature 

 borough, impels me to offer a sugges- o f scavengers. The tree outgrows the 

 tion for those who seek a remedy. capacity of its environment to sustain 

 I judge from the article that all ef- j n 11O rmal condition; then nature imme- 

 forts thus far have been toward the diately starts pulling it to pieces, to 

 destruction of the so-called enemy, the construct something in its place. The 

 fungi which encircles the branch under f as ter or most rank growing trees usu- 

 the bark, cutting off the circulation a \\y corne to grief first, particularly if 

 and causing the -branch to wither and t hey ^ smO oth barked, 

 die. Professor Mickleborough says, "It jf p ro fessor Mickelborough finds 

 finds lodgment where the bark is y OUn g chestnut trees in fresh soil escap- 

 abraded." I have examined the photo- j n g t he tremble he m ay be sure that 

 graphs illustrating the article, but am prO per cultivation of the tree will cause 

 unable to discover any young chestnut t ] ie f un gi to disappear. When people ask 

 trees. It occurs to me that a young me how to k eep dandelions out of their 

 tree of vigorous growth might be im- lawn> j say "cultivate grass;" then I 

 mime, and that the real trouble precedes prove to them that they pay and pray 

 the fungi referred to. This I know to f or grass on i y? ]- )Ut everything they do 

 be the case with the cottony scale on to the Jawn f avO rs the dandelion, "just 

 soft maples. Treat them as a gardener as soon ag the chestnut tree's character- 

 does a pot-bound plant in a greenhouse ist j cs go ungTa tifi e d, so-called disease 

 -shift to a larger pot with fresh soil. wiu surdy set in ^ one var i e ty after an- 

 The plant immediately turns from yel- Qthei% mi[{ the tree finally disappears, 

 low to green and the insects disappear, j believe energy spent in fighting is 

 With the tree, dig up well mulch and wagte the way to overcome the evil 

 cover the surface with shrubbery to js tQ cultivate the good . The environ- 

 maintain its aeration and absorb the ment which malnta ins the desirable 

 rainfall, holding dead leaves etc., and wm a g ^^ ^ unde sirable. 

 the tree becomes immune. This scale ^ -g WHITN\L: 

 appears to feed on the return sap which 



is coagulated and deficient in conse- tw & 



quence of insufficient assimilation of 

 the necessary elements. More About the Blight 



Chestnut trees in Wisconsin, sur- 

 rounded by "civilization," go all to EDITOR CONSERVATION : 

 pieces after they attain a large size; Reading in your current November 

 every wind storm tears off a piece, ex- number the article on "The Blight on 

 posing decay. The bark is invariably Chestnut Trees," in which is reaffirmed 

 broken, apparently by winter freezing, the failure to discover a remedy for 

 Were the fungi to take possession and that blight, I believe you may be inter- 

 finish the job in short order, it would ested in what seems to have been a 

 get the blame. However, I am inclined successful remedial course of treatment 

 to think that all troubles which at first of a "blighted" small, scattered chest- 



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