RECENT TROUBLES WITH OUR FOREST TREES 69 



V 

 Pine Tree Blight. 



This disease of the white pine which was very prevalent through- 

 out the season of 1907 has made its appearance again during the 

 past year in many sections of Massachusetts. Its chief charac- 

 teristic is that the tips of the needles turn brown and die. Some 

 trees show the malady more than others, depending upon just how 

 far down the needles from the tip the so-called "blight" has spread. 



It is believed there is little that can be done for the trees thus 

 affected as it is evidently climatic conditions in all probability 

 that are the cause of the trouble. The percentage of trees perma- 

 nently affected or that die from this trouble are very small indeed. 

 The greatest concern that this disease has caused the past year is 

 that it is mistaken for the white pine blister rust. Almost invari- 

 ably people believe this trouble to be the blister rust. 



Pathologists have thus far never agreed just as to the cause of 

 this malady. When it occurred in 1907 our pine owners were 

 equally scared as to the future of white pine as at the present time, 

 many going so far as to sell their pine stands at a sacrifice. The 

 rainy season of the past year seemed to render conditions favorable 

 for its development while in 1907 the season was dry; hence either 

 extreme seems to favor it. It evidently is a physiological condition 

 rather than a disease. The Massachusetts State Forester's report 

 for 1907 gives quite a full report of this pine tree blight. 



Conclusion. 



There are numerous other more or less minor troubles affecting 

 our forest trees, but I have covered the more important ones. 

 From time to time undoubtedly there will come into prominence 

 pests that heretofore have been relatively unimportant, but our 

 main concern should be to perfect our forest practices and be 

 prepared to cope with any and all forest troubles in a comprehen- 

 sive and economic manner. 



