March, 1912.] THE CHESTNUT BARK DISEASE. 211 
report of the Zoological Society Merkel says, “It has spread 
to such an extent that today it is no exaggeration to say that 
98 per cent of all the chestnut trees in the parks of this bor- 
ough are infected. The spread of this disease is so sudden 
that unless some radical measures are taken or a natural 
enemy of this fungus develops, it is safe to predict that not a 
live specimen of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) 
will be found two years hence in the neighborhood of the Zoo- 
Fig. 2.—A beautiful grove a few years ago, but all chestnut dead now. 
logical Park”. Valiant efforts were made to save trees which 
were not yet diseased by spraying them thoroughly with Bor- 
deaux mixture, while many which were only slightly diseased 
were pruned and repruned, but all of their endeavors availed 
nothing, and today those great parks are destitute of the 
chestnut trees. 
5-6 Dr. Murrill studied the disease in 
During the years 190 
ark. As a result of his studies 
laboratory, greenhouse and p tud 
he found it to be new and undescribed, tho a fungus similar 
