DEATH OF CHESTNUTS AND OAKS. 9 



gation covering the entire range of this recession may or may not 

 show the presence of this root-rot as abundantly over the other 

 regions involved as it is at Brim. The identification of this root- 

 rotting organism as it occurred both in New York and in North 

 Carolina was made from the rhizomorphic strands present on the 

 affected trees. No sporophores were found, as the time of the year 

 during which the diseased trees were examined was not the proper 

 season for their appearance. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



(1) The chestnut near New Berlin, N. Y., and at Brim, N. C, is 

 deteriorating. This is clearly shown by the small annual increment 

 during recent years, by the thin sapwood, by the large percentage of 

 diseased and stag-headed tops, and by the number of dead and dying 

 trees. This decline is probably due to several factors, one of which 

 is the root-rotting fungus Armillaria mellea, but it should be noted 

 that in spite of these facts the chestnut bark disease (EndotMa para- 

 sitica) is not present in these localities. 



(2) Armillaria mellea can become an active parasite under favor- 

 able conditions, especially in chestnuts and oaks, killing not only 

 suppressed trees in the forest, but also those that are growing under 

 more favorable environments. 



(3) The prevalence and apparent destructiveness of this fungus 

 over the area examined in North Carolina seem to point to it as very 

 probably an important factor in the gradual recession of the chestnut 

 in that State. 



o 



