CHESTNUT TREE BLIGHT. 338 
ADVICE TO OWNERS OF ORNAMENTAL CHESTNUT TREES. 
Until the future of the chestnut tree is better known, or at least 
until we know what legalized action is going to be taken in the 
States concerned, the owners of chestnut-timbered land available for 
Pulse should pursue a very conservative policy. Houses should 
not be located with sole reference to chestnut groves or to isolated 
ornamental chestnut trees. Houses so located should be discrimi- 
nated against in purchasing homes in so far as the death of the 
chestnut trees would injure the appearance of the place. 
When ornamental trees become diseased they ted better be cut 
down at once and, if practicable, large trees of ‘other species moved 
in to take their places. In expert hands the moving of large trees is 
a perfectly practicable and successful procedure and, although more 
expensive, is much more satisfactory than waiting for nursery trees to 
‘ow.* 
aaa owners of diseased ornamental chestnut trees are specifically 
warned against ‘‘fake” tree doctors. Large sums of money have 
been paid out in many cases for treatment that has been worse than 
useless. Reliable tree specialists will have nothing to do with trees 
affected with the chestnut bark disease, or, if they do anything, do it 
with the distinct understanding in advance that it is entirely at the 
owner's risk. Of course, if an owner desires to employ tree surgeons 
to experiment, that is another matter. 
ADVANCING POPULAR KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISEASE. 
In. the localities where infection is general or complete (fig. 2) 
everyone knows what the chestnut bark disease is and what its ier 
toms are and everyone appreciates its seriousness; but in these local- 
ities it is too late even to attempt its control. On the other hand, in 
Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, western and southern Mary- 
land, western Pennsylvania, central and northern New York, Massa- 
chusetts, and Rhode Island very few people know the symptoms of 
the disease. On this account no one notices it until it is thoroughly 
established, and by the time public sentiment is sufficiently aroused 
to authorize the necessary legislation and bring about united action 
for public protection it is too late for such action to be of service. 
Obviously, then, every effort should be made by all State and other 
officials having such matters in charge to acquaint every citizen with 
the prominent symptoms of the bark disease and to familiarize him 
with the fact that unless prompt and united action is taken there 
is every indication that the chestnut tree in the States above men- 
tioned will become practically extinct within 10 years. 
COOPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
In this campaign of education the Department of Agriculture will 
cooperate in ie ‘ellowne ways: Copies of this bulletin or of other 
publications of this department relating to the bark disease, and also 
1 i immediately desirable or possible, a very good, though temporary, scenic 
anaes Snianae pelenaie off the: ends of the larger branches of the dead and dying chestnut ee, 
removing the bark, and planting some rapid-growing vine at their foot, which soon covers heart ne 
of the best for this *purpose is the Japanese kudzu vine (Pueraria thumbergiana (S. and Z.) ( ee .), oO 
account 6f its extraordinarily rapid growth. Such vine-covered stumps must be carefully watched, how- 
ever, for in a very few years they decay and are liable to be blown over. 
43017°—-S. Doc. 653, 62-2——3 
