BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 89 



Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief. 

 May 22, 1914. 



(PROFESSIONAL PAPER.) 



THE DEATH OF CHESTNUTS AND OAKS DUE TO 

 ARMILLARIA MELLEA. 



By W. H. Long, 

 Forest Pathologist, Office of Investigations in Forest Pathology. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Some time ago complaint was made to the Office of Investigations 

 in Forest Pathology that the chestnut trees on certain areas near New 

 Berlin, in Chenango County, N. Y., were rapidly deteriorating; that 

 some were dead, others dying, and the remainder in poor health. Since 

 this region is not in the known range of the chestnut bark disease 

 (Endothia parasitica), the dying of the chestnut could not be attrib- 

 uted to this fungus, and the writer was therefore detailed to make an 

 investigation of the trouble. 



CHARACTER OF THE TIMBER EXAMINED. 



Two areas of woodland of about 20 acres each were examined. 

 The timber consisted of a mixed stand of chestnut, oak, and white 

 pine, with a sprinkling of poplar, maple, and hemlock. All of the 

 timber above a diameter of 6 inches, or even less, was being cut. 

 Much of it had only recently been felled, while some was still uncut. 

 The oak and chestnut were being made into railroad ties and the pine 

 into lumber. Both tracts of timber were located on the level tops 

 and slopes of rather rough ridges. The average age of the chestnut 

 and oak was from 60 to 100 years. One of the areas had been partially 

 logged over 20 years ago; the other had never been logged. There 

 have been no forest fires in either tract, so far as known. As the 

 two areas were close to each other and similarly located, they will 

 be treated as a whole in this discussion. 



CHARACTER OF DATA OBTAINED. 



In addition to the felled trees of chestnut and oak, dead, dying, 

 and badly diseased standing trees were studied. No attempt was 

 made, on account of limited time, to examine the roots of any number 



Note.— A record of the results of field investigations of the condition of chestnut and oak in Chenango 

 County, N. Y. 



34907*— 14 1 



