THE SPRUCE INVESTIGATION. . 237 



trouble, except the destructive pine bark beetle, which, it ap- 

 pears is not attracted to felled timber. 



CAUSE OF THE SECOND TROUBLE. 



While the causes of the first trouble appear to be satisfactor- 

 ily explained, there is yet a certain degree of uncertainty, 

 which, owing to the conditions stated, cannot be explained. 



It is different, however, with the second trouble, or that of 

 1892, which I had abundant opportunity to investigate from 

 beginning to end. The primary cause of its starting is clearly 

 explained and may be briefly stated as follows: 



In 1890, the pine timber was observed by the late Capt. 

 Parsons, of Davis, W. Va., to be dying along W arm Springs 

 Mountain, Virginia, for a distance ot 70 miles, and upon ex- 

 amination it was found that no cause for the trouble was ap- 

 parent, except that the green or living bark was filled with 

 "worms and bugs." Subsequently, this trouble spread into 

 West Virginia, and was the subject of special investigation, and 

 in May, 1892, I discovered that a bark beetle, somewhat similar 

 to the destructive spruce bark beetle, but larger, was to blame 

 for the death of the trees in the Easter Pine and Hardwood 

 region. In June of the same year, the spruce was found to be 

 dying, and upon thorough examination, the trouble was found 

 to be caused by the same beetle which hr.d migrated from the 

 infested pine into the spruce, the attack on the spruce being 

 made on the upper portion of the trunk, as was its habit in at- 

 tacking the pine. A number of dying trees were felled and ex^ 

 amined from root to top, and in every case the prime cause of 

 the diseased condition or death of the tree was easily traced to 

 this insect, and it was also observed in the act of mining and 

 depositing eggs in the inner living bark on healthy^ vigorous 

 spruce trees, leaving no doubt whatever [that it was the prime 

 cause of the death of the timber, and the starting of this new 

 trouble. While the spruce bark beetle was its most ready ally, 

 and was invariably found entering .the bark of trees that had 

 scarcely commenced to show signs of weakened vitality, there 

 was always evidence that the destructive pine bark beetle was 



