CHAPTER VIII 



BALD CYPRESS DISEASES 



The bald cj'press or Taxodium is an important timber-tree 

 in southern and southeastern United States. It is frequently 

 used as an ornamental. The peeky heartwood-rot is the only 

 known disease of any importance which attacks this tree. 



Pecky Heartwood-Rot 



Caused by Fames geotropus Cooke 



The pecky heartwood-rot of bald cypress is a common disease 

 and is recognized by every one who handles cypress timber. 

 The disease is also known by the names peggy-, botty- and bot- 

 c\'press and the peck or puck of cypress. Bald cj'press trees 

 throughout their range are more or less affected by this disease. 

 It seems, however, to be more common and destructive in the 

 extreme southern states. It has been estimated that one-third 

 of the cj'press timber available is damaged by this wood-rot. 

 Older trees are most often affected and, in many cases, the tops 

 of the trees are decayed without damage to the principal timber 

 portion. The number of trees showing more or less peckiness 

 has been found to vary from practically 100 per cent of the stand 

 in Florida and Louisiana to smaller percentages toward the 

 northern limits of the range of cypress in North Carolina, In- 

 diana and IMissouri. Since the pecky wood has been found to 

 be practically as durable as the normal unaffected wood, it is 

 used for rough lumber and as ornamental finishing for rustic 

 H 97 



