66 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



have millions of trees in our nurseries ready to go out, and all at 

 once under the guise of public-spirited cooperation, and before there 

 has been sufficient evidence, a campaign is set in motion to discour- 

 age and thwart all our laudable reforestation endeavors. 



Realizing that the blister rust disease needs attention, and believ- 

 ing that our forests could be properly safeguarded by those who are 

 made responsible for so doing, last year the following recommenda- 

 tion was made in the State Forester's annual report, and it is 

 believed it will bear repeating now as follows : — 



"The White Pine Blister Rust," one of the diseases of the white 

 pine, should be given due consideration at the hands of our vari- 

 ous state officials, particularly the pathologist of the Agricultural 

 Experiment Station and the State Nursery Inspector, in deter- 

 mining our conditions as regards this disease. Some definite 

 policy of holding the disease in check, or exterminating it if possible, 

 should be adopted. It is believed that while this disease may 

 become very destructive to our white pines, nevertheless the danger 

 is not sufficient to discourage prospective planters of the white 

 pine. It is not our purpose to minimize the importance of this 

 disease, nor do we intend to lessen our endeavor to combat it. 

 We do, however, believe it is a good policy not to over-exaggerate 

 the danger and thus necessarily deter the constructive work of 

 reforestation, until there is more convincing proof than is to be 

 had at present that the disease is likely to become a great menace 

 to white pine. It is to be hoped that the average Massachusetts 

 citizen will continue planting white pine as enthusiastically as ever, 

 leaving the problem of its protection from diseases and insects to 

 be looked after by technically-trained officials." 



We certainly have not sufficient knowledge at the present time 

 to determine how serious a situation confronts us in this disease. 

 Investigation and experience will have to serve as a guide to future 

 operations. From a more or less careful study of conditions my 

 personal recommendations for handling this disease for the coming 

 year would be as follows : — 



1. Empower a state department with authority to regulate and 

 control any and all diseased white pines and Ribes (currants and 

 gooseberries), declaring them a public nuisance and to be dealt 

 with in a similar manner to that in which gypsy moths are now 

 controlled. 



