A STUDY OF HEART- ROT IN WESTEEN HEMLOCK. 7 



This generally indicates that the largest sporophore marks the area 

 of greatest decay and that the decay has traveled both ways. In any 

 case^ trees bearing more than one sporophore situated some distance 

 from each other are not merchantable and should be cut down and 

 burned or fire-girdled. 



The presence of sporophores on the tree is an indication of a fairly 

 advanced stage of decay throughout a good portion of the tree. On 

 the other hand, the absence of sporophores does not always indicate 

 soundness. A few cases may occur where the tree is so old in decay 

 that the sporophores have died and fallen away. The discoloration 

 of the bark at the point of attachment or the hole left by the rotting 



Fig. 4.— An old sporophore of Echinodontium tinctorium on hemlock. Top view, showing the zonation 

 and the relation to intensive decay. 



branch may readily be noted.. The old sporophores, which have a 

 remarkable resistance to decay, may be observed on the ground at 

 the base of the tree. Pounding on the tree is a fairly accurate 

 method of determining soundness, down to a particular stage of rot. 

 In doubtful cases, remarkably accurate results may be obtained by 

 pressing the ear firmly against the tree while pounding. Previous 

 to this, the bark should be removed over a small area in order to 

 secure an uncushioned sounding point. 



Probably the most practical method for the average marking ofiicer, 

 in the absence of visible defects, is the presence of red color a half inch 

 or so within the dead branch stubs. This reddish coloration of the 

 rot E. tinctorium is an index of an advanced stage, and its appearance 

 so far out on the dead branch as to be detected by merely breaking 



