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3. Even if these trees are cut, it is impossible to discover and 
eradicate the numerous infections originating from millions 
of spores produced on these trees and distributed by birds, 
insects, squirrels, wind, and rain. 
Even if it were possible to cut and burn all affected trees, 
for ten to twenty years afterwards numbers of sprouts would 
grow up from the roots of these trees and continue to die from 
-the disease and to spread the infection. 
5. Supposing that it might be possible to eradicate all advance 
infections, what method is proposed that is at all feasible for 
combating the disease in its main line of advance? All of the 
foresters connected with the United States Government and the 
entire Army of the United States would be utterly powerless 
to oppose its progress. 
6. Although the chestnut canker has been known and experi- 
mented with since 1905, there is not a single instance where 
conspicuously affected there have been cut snd burned, so that 
the presence of the disease is not readily apparent, but with each 
season additional trees will be affected and the attempt to stay 
the disease will be abandoned, especially when the main line 
of advance, which is now in northern Maryland, reaches the 
Potomac River. 
The following suggestions for further scientific investigation 
of the disease were made by the writer: 
QUESTIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION. 
I. The vitality of the spores, both summer and winter forms. 
2. The vitality of the mycelium in the bark and wood. 
3. The vitality of sprouts and their bearing on the question. 
4. The food of the fungus; the decomposition of tannin by 
ferments. 
