1906.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 33. 123 



whole State, but appears to be less common in the Connect- 

 icut valley than elsewhere. 



One of the most distinctive features connected with the 

 pine during the past summer was the burning of the tips of 

 the leaves. In most cases the young, new leaves conmienced 

 to turn yellow at their ends, as if sun scorched, but usually 

 grew worse ; and in many instances all the needles turned 

 yellow, subsequently died and dropped off. This might not 

 occur on the whole tree, but on only one or more branches. 

 Occasionally this trouble would occur before the young- 

 needles reached their normal length ; and in such cases the 

 needles would be short and the tree would present a stunted 

 foliage, as we sometimes see on pines grown in very dry 

 soil. Many were inclined to believe that some fungous 

 disease was affecting the pines. Our examinations of the 

 young needles in early summer showed no indications of 

 fungi being present, and others have reported the same 

 results. Subsequentl}^ however, there appeared various 

 species of fungi on the leaves, and in some cases on the 

 branches, etc. This was merely a natural result following 

 the weakened condition of the tree, caused by the affected 

 root system. 



Mrs. Flora W. Patterson of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture in Washington, who had exce})tional opportunities to 

 examine the pine trouble as it occurred in New England and 

 elsewhere during the summer, reports at least six different 

 species of fungi upon the needles and branches. From 

 examination of considerable material gathered in this State 

 she has reported having found Phoma Harknessii, Sacc, 

 Septoria parasitica, Hartig, Ilendersonia foliicala, Berk. 

 The Septoria was found in connection with the leaves that 

 had their tips burned, and the Hendersonia was associated 

 with a general yellowing or irregular spotting of the needles, 

 while the Phoma was found with a quite different and by no 

 means common trouble, causing no serious injury to the 

 trees. 



In conclusion, we would state that the trouble affecting 

 the pine in this State was due primarily to the extreme 

 winter-killing of the roots during the winter of 1903-04, 



