93 



FOREST AND SHADE TREE INSECTS. II. 



BLACK SPRUCE (Pic fa Mariana}. 

 PRELIMINARY REPORT. 



As stated upon another page while passing through Randolph 

 county on our journey of observation and collection, in July, we 

 first learned of the destruction of the spruce timber in that section 

 of the State; the cause of which no one seemed to know; evidently 

 some disease or insect attack was threatening the spruce forests with 

 total destruction. On returning to the Station and reporting the 

 fact, a special trip was ordered. Accordingly on August 25th to 

 August 28th, inclusive, a journey was made in company with the 

 Botanist of the Station by rail and stage, into the Spruce forests of 

 Cheat Mountains at a point called Winchester, on Shafer's Fork of 

 Cheat River in Randolph county, for the purpose of making a 

 special investigation of the unhealthy and dying condition of the 

 Black Spruce timber in that region. 



A portion of this forest was passed through on the West Virginia 

 Central R. R. in Tucker county on the 25th, where great numbers of 

 dead spruce trees were noted, and where extensive saw mills were 

 at work converting millions of feet into lumber. We arrived at 

 Elkins, the terminus of this railroad, late at night on the 25th. On 

 the afternoon of the next day we proceeded to Huttonsville by stage, 

 where we remained on account of rain and floods until the morning 

 of the 28th. 



Proceeding again by stage on the Staunton pike, we entered the 

 forests in which the investigations were to be conducted eleven 

 miles from Huttonsville a^n altitude of 3,425 feet. The timber 

 here along the road had been cut and converted into lumber; this 

 cutting, however, only extended a short distance after which we en- 

 tered the forest in its natural state. Passing through this some 

 three or four miles it was noted that over half the timber along the 

 road was dead and in all stages of decay. At one place along this 

 road our driver pointed out the site of the first saw mill in this re- 

 gion; it having been brought there by the soldiers during the late 

 war for the purpose of sawing lumber for their winter camp; beyond 

 this, we came to the battle field of Cheat mountain, a clear and open 



