224 W. V. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 137 



providing for the destruction of trees so affected; creating a 

 commission to carry out the purpose of this act ; fixing penal- 

 ties for the violation of the provisions hereof ; and making an 

 appropriation therefor". 



Soon after the passage of the bill, in June 1911, a com- 

 mission was appointed. At present they have a well organiz- 

 ed staff and are preparing for a tremendous campaign against 

 the disease this coming season. They have accomplished 

 much work of value already, and have had a considerable 

 number of trained men in the field all the time. Space will 

 not permit a detailed discussion of their methods, but they 

 would surely serve as a safe model for any other state. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



Since the disease is known to be present in West Virginia, 

 we owe it to ourselves and to neighboring states to take defi- 

 nite and immediate steps for preventing its further spread. 



The disease has been found in a number of chestnut nur- 

 series and in several cases local areas of infection have been 

 directly traced to such diseased stock. Any one contemplat- 

 ing the purchase of chestnut trees from nurseries would do 

 well to correspond with the Agricultural Experiment Station 

 at Morgantown, before securing them. Any such trees should 

 be inspected by competent authorities in this state before 

 being accepted or paid for. 



Some careful inspection work should be done in the vicini- 

 ties of the three local infections already reported for this 

 state and in the northern and north Eastern portions of the 

 state during the next season. 



The control of this disease is a matter of great economic 

 importance to the State of West Virginia, and deserves the 

 serious consideration and hearty co-operation of every citizen. 

 We would urge that everyone make it a point to take care- 

 ful note of the condition of any chestnut trees which may 



