576 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



westward stride has received much 

 favorable support. A large majority of 

 the field force in the employ of the 

 Commission are working throughout 

 the counties situated west of the Sus- 

 quehanna River, where only occasional 

 or sporadic infections are found. These 

 are speedily destroyed and the owners 

 instructed to watch carefully for subse- 

 quent infections. It is in this manner 

 that the fungus had been kept under 

 control, although not completely eradi- 

 cated in the district designated. There 

 are those who believe that the form 

 of Diaportha parasitica found on the 

 chestnut of western Pennsylvania coun- 

 ties may be less virulent than that 

 prevalent in sorely affected eastern 

 Pennsylvania counties, since it is less 

 common, and apparently, more readily 

 controlled. A stronger and more vig- 

 orous chestnut, under more favorable 

 climatic conditions, soil, etc., may af- 

 ford the power to add greater resistance 

 to the attack of the fungus. Let us 

 earnestly hope that Nature may come 

 to our help speedily in coping with the 

 chestnut blight, since tree-surgery, med- 

 ication, fertilization and experimenta- 

 tion, generally, has been comparatively 

 futile in those localities where, perhaps, 

 relief is most needed. 



The Pennsylvania authorities believe 

 in thorough work. Active scouting has 

 been followed by such practical work as 

 was deemed expedient. The press of 

 Pennsylvania and adjoining States 

 heartily supported the Commission, and 

 the campaign of education and pub- 

 licity met with warm approval. State, 

 pomona and local grangers, agricultural 

 societies, etc., manifested their willing- 

 ness to co-operate in the task of sav- 

 ing the chestnut, and all of these or- 

 ganizations are doing splendidly for the 

 cause. The boy scout-masters are also 

 rendering valuable help, and their re- 

 ports afford interesting reading, since 

 the boys are in earnest and expect to 

 win for their troop one of the several 

 large flags that will be awarded to the 

 scout organizations that can show the 

 best practical results. 



Another important branch is that of 

 the utilization of chestnut. It is well 

 known that chestnut trees killed by the 

 fungus will deteriorate rapidly in qual- 

 ity, if not promptly marketed. It is 

 for this reason that especial attention 

 is being devoted to the subject of find- 

 ing a market for the chestnut tree 

 products. Large quantities of cord- 

 wood and other parts of infected chest- 

 nut trees will be sold to tannic-acid 



SCENE SHOWING THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF CHESTNUT TREES 



BY THE BLIGHT. 



