216 W. V. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 137 
Such threads are composed of countless numbers of spores 
held together by some sticky material. Rains dissolve this 
adhesive material and carry the spores to lower portions of the 
same tree or to others standing close by. 
When a branch is girdled by cutting around it, there is apt 
to be an enlargement produced just above the wound, and a 
similar effect is often noted in limbs attacked by this disease. 
In fact many of the gross symptoms are exactly similar. to 
those which would be produced by mechanical or insect girdl- 
ing. 
If older portions are attacked, the discoloration and pus- 
tule formation are not so evident, as most of the pustules are 
produced in the fissures of the bark. Such bark, when cut 
through, is found to be discolored and breaks up easily like 
punk. Tapping upon this bark will usually produce a pecu- 
liar dull sound. 
The fungus may continue to grow in the dead bark for 
some time. It was not generally thought to be capable of 
growth in the wood, but three investigators, Dr. Caroline 
Rumbold, W. H. Rankin, and J. Franklin Collins, in different 
sections of the country have reported finding it upon the wood 
during the past season. (1) 
Besides the common so called summer spores mentioned 
above, the fungus produces another kind known as the per- 
fect or winter spores. These are darker in color and the pus- 
tules are less conspicuous. They are most frequently produc- 
ed during the late fall, and help the fungus to survive any 
unfavorable weather conditions. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
As previously stated, this disease threatens the destruc- 
iton of all chestnut timber in the Eastern States. At the 
present time it is known to be present in Massachusetts, 
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 
(1) This statement is taken from unpublished data furnished by the parties 
mentioned. Rankin gives a detailed description of the fungus growth on wood 
and reports finding fruiting pustules on wood entirely stripped of its bark and 
exposed to weathering. 
