68 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



foliage. These trees are also noticeable for their short needles 

 and stunted growth. 



Besides the typical burning of the pine, troubles of a cjiffer- 

 ent nature have occasionally been observed. In the season of 

 1906-OT there was considerable burning, caused by the fungus 

 Phoma. This fungus attacked the young stems and branches, 

 causing the death of the leaves. In this case the leaves die 

 but remain on the branch. There was also a burning of pine 

 foliage in the early spring months similar to that which occurs 

 on arbor vitas and various conifers, generally known as sun 

 scald. This has been more or less common the last year or two, 

 and is confined to certain branches. The effects of burning; 

 from contact with drifting snow have also been noticed from 

 time to time in certain localities, and serious burning has been 

 noted on the foliage of the pitch pine, which, according to Mr. 

 T. IT. Jones, a graduate student who specialized in entomology, 

 is due in part if not wholly to the work of insects. 



Occasional djing of the Avhite and Scotch pines has been 

 observed, and the Norway and other spruces have been dying to 

 a greater extent than usual. 



It should be pointed out that reports of the so-called pine 

 blight have been exaggerated even by those who should have 

 known better. Fortunately this exaggeration has had slight 

 effect on owners of woodland, and the planting of young pine is 

 still going on in this State, owing to the excellent work of State 

 Forester F. William Rane. 



Of all the trees peculiarly adapted to this region, the white 

 pine stands at the head of the list, and it has been and is to-day 

 one of the most valuable assets of our soil. So well adapted is 

 this tree to our region, and so rapidly does it fill up old pastures 

 and woodlands, that if Massachusetts should become deserted 

 now, in one hundred and fifty years it would be densely covered 

 with a magnificent growth of white pine. In the primeval 

 forests of the State, pine and hemlock constitute the principal 

 trees, but the hemlock has disappeared to such an extent, owing 

 to the modification of soil conditions, that it would take several 

 centuries for it to regain its former pre-eminence. On the other 

 hand, the white pine is such a cosmopolitan tree in this region, 

 adapting itself to such a variety of conditions, that if left to 



