THE CHESTNUT BARK DISEASE. 371 
The entire tree should be carefully examined for diseased spots 
and every one thoroughly cut out and treated in the way described. 
In case suspicious-looking spots appear, a portion of the outer bark 
can be cut out with the sharp gouge as a test. If this cut shows the 
characteristically discolored bark, the spot is diseased and should be 
cut out accordingly; if the cut shows healthy bark, it need merely 
be treated with tar or paint, as other cuts are treated. In examining 
a tree for diseased spots it is always best to begin at the base of the 
trunk and work up, for if the trunk is girdled at the base it is useless 
to work anywhere on the tree. 
A tree which is being treated for individual infections must be 
carefully watched and the diseased spots promptly cut out as they 
appear. For this purpose each tree should be examined very care- 
fully two or three times at least during the growing season. If all 
the mycelium in the bark and wood has not been removed reinfection 
is certain to follow. 
ADVICE TO CHESTNUT ORCHARDISTS. 
In view of the uncertain future of the chestnut tree the United 
States Department of Agriculture advises against planting chestnuts 
anywhere east of Indiana, at least for the present. 
West of the natural range of the American chestnut, however, the 
situation is quite different. Obviously the western chestnut orchard- 
ist has before him a great opportunity. No matter how successful 
efforts to limit the bark disease may be, the nut crop will be reduced 
for some years, and the business of growing fine orchard chestnuts 
in the East will be depressed for the same length of time. There is 
no apparent reason why, with rigid inspection of purchased stock 
and of the orchards themselves, all chestnut orchards and nurseries 
from Indiana to the Pacific coast can not be kept permanently free 
from the bark disease; therefore, all persons interested in growing 
the chestnut in the West are earnestly advised to be sure that stock 
from any source is rigidly inspected, to watch continually and with 
the utmost care their own nurseries and orchards, and to destroy 
immediately by fire any trees that may be found diseased. 
ADVICE TO OWNERS OF ORNAMENTAL CHESTNUT TREES. 
Until the future of the chestnut tree is better known, the owners 
of chestnut-timbered land available for building should pursue a very 
conservative policy. Houses should not be located with sole ref- 
erence to chestnut groves or to isolated ornamental chestnut trees. 
Buyers of real estate should discriminate against houses so located 
in so far as the death of the chestnut trees would injure the appear- 
ance of the place. 
