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



Such threads are composed of countless numbers of spores 

 held together by some sticky material. Rains dissolve this 

 adhesive material and carry the spores to lower portions of the 

 same tree or to others standing close by. 



When a branch is girdled by cutting around it, there is apt 

 to be an enlargement produced just above the wound, and a 

 similar effect is often noted in limbs attacked by this disease. 

 In fact many of the gross symptoms are exactly similar to 

 those which would be produced by mechanical or insect girdl- 

 ing. 



If older portions are attacked, the discoloration and pus- 

 tule formation are not so evident, as most of the pustules are 

 produced in the fissures of the bark. Such bark, when cut 

 through, is found to be discolored and breaks up easily like 

 punk. Tapping upon this bark will usually produce a pecu- 

 liar dull sound. 



The fungus may continue to grow in the dead bark for 

 some time. It was not generally thought to be capable of 

 growth in the wood, but three investigators, Dr. Caroline 

 Rumbold, W. H. Rankin, and J. Franklin Collins, in different 

 sections of the country have reported finding it upon the wood 

 during the past season. (i) 



Besides the common so called summer spores mentioned 

 above, the fungus produces another kind known as the per- 

 fect or winter spores. These are darker in color and the pus- 

 tules are less conspicuous. They are most frequently produc- 

 ed during the late fall, and help the fungus to survive any 

 unfavorable weather conditions. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



As previously stated, this disease threatens the destruc- 

 iton of all chestnut timber in the Eastern States. At the 

 present time it is known to be present in Massachusetts, 

 Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 



(1) This statement is taken from unpublished data furnished by the parties 

 mentioned. Rankin gives a detailed description of the fungus growth on wood 

 and reports finding fruiting pustules on wood entirely stripped of its bark and 

 exposed to weathering. 



