210 W. V. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 137 
thousand as stumpage value, we have a total valuation of $15,- 
000,000. These figures do not mean a great deal as there are 
many things to be considered aside from the simple lumber 
value of the chestnut. 
Cur West Virginia forests deserve far more attention than 
they have thus far received, and it is hoped that the publica- 
tion of this Bulletin will help to bring about some definite 
action both in regard to the Chestnut Bark Disease and gen- 
eral forestry work in this State. 
Fie, 1.—A fine old tree, but dying from the bark disease. 
HISTORY. 
Attention was first called to this disease by Dr. H. W. 
Merkle, of the New York Botanical Gardens. During the 
summer of 1904-5 he noticed that a few of the chestnut trees 
in the parks appeared to be dying in a peculiar manner, and 
he brought the matter to the attention of Dr. W. A. Murrill, 
the Mycologist. In a paper on the subject given in the 1905 
