153 



ions in the bark, be rendered innocuous by any coating applied 

 it intervals. On the other hand, no poisonous wash, even 

 hough covering every part of the tree, can prevent the germi- 

 wtion of the disseminated spores when they fall into a wound, 

 :ince the wound opens up fresh tissues unprotected by the 



The spraying of young trees with copper sulfate solution, or 

 strong Bordeaux mixture, in the spring before the buds open 

 night be of advantage in killing the spores that have found lodg- 

 ment among the branches during the winter, but the real efficacy 

 )f this treatment is so doubtful that it could not be recommended 

 "or large trees, where the practical difficulties and expense of 

 ipplying it are much increased. Nursery trees should be pruned 

 Df all affected branches as soon as they are discovered, and the 

 (rounds carefully dressed with tar or paint or other suitable sub- 

 itance. Vigilance and care should largely control the disease 

 imong young trees. With older trees all dead and infected 

 wood should be cut out and burned and all wounds covered 

 without delay. Particular attention should be paid to water, soil 

 ind other conditions of culture affecting the vitality of the tree; 

 since anything that impairs its health renders it less able to resist 

 'ungus attack. 



It is possible that the conspicuous ravages of the disease about 

 New York City are largely due to the severe and prolonged 

 winter of 1903-04, during which many trees of various kinds 

 were killed or injured. The chestnut is peculiar, moreover, in 

 ts power to sprout from the stump almost indefinitely, and most 

 sf the trees now existing in this region are descendants of trees 

 :ut for lumber many decades ago. This repeated coppicing can- 

 not fail at length to impair the vigor of each new generation of 

 iprouts and render them peculiarly liable to speedy infection and 

 /igorous attack. 



W. A. MURRILL. 



