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tions in the bark, be rendered innocuous by any coating applied 
at intervals. On the other hand, no poisonous wash, even 
though covering every part of the tree, can prevent the germi- 
nation of the disseminated spores when they fall into a wound, 
since the wound opens up fresh tissues unprotected by the 
poison. 
The spraying of young trees with copper sulfate solution, or 
strong Bordeaux mixture, in the spring before the buds open 
might be of advantage in killing the spores that have found lodg- 
ment among the branches during the winter, but the real efficacy 
of this treatment is so doubtful that it could not be recommended 
for large trees, where the practical difficulties and expense of 
applying it are much increased. Nursery trees should be pruned 
of all affected branches as soon as they are discovered, and the 
wounds carefully dressed with tar or paint or other suitable sub- 
stance. Vigilance and care should largely control the disease 
among young trees. With older trees all dead and infected 
wood should be cut out and burned and all wounds covered 
without delay. Particular attention should be paid to water, soil 
and other conditions of culture affecting the vitality of the tree; 
since anything that impairs its health renders it less able to resist 
fungus attack. 
It is possible that the conspicuous ravages of the disease about 
New York City are largely due to the severe and prolonged 
winter of 1903-04, during which many trees of various kinds 
were killed or injured. The chestnut is peculiar, moreover, in 
its power to sprout from the stump almost indefinitely, and most 
of the trees now existing in this region are descendants of trees 
cut for lumber many decades ago. This repeated coppicing can- 
not fail at length to impair the vigor of each new generation of 
sprouts and render them peculiarly liable to speedy infection and 
vigorous attack. 
W. A. Mourrict. 
