610 BULLETIN 347 
In the Delaware and Roundout River valleys it is a question of utili- 
zation of immense quantities of second-growth chestnut of small dimen- 
sions. It seems that the work in this region, as well as in the Hudson 
River valley, is of a magnitude sufficient to warrant a careful study by 
the proper state officials in order that owners may receive helpful advice 
on conditions, markets, and methods. This would be an immediate 
phase of conservation worth while to the State of New York. 
In the central and western parts of the State a careful watch should 
be kept for new spot infections, and the diseased trees eradicated as 
soon as discovered. Plans for future replacement of chestnut by other 
species should be made now, even before the chestnut dies, so that a 
forest may be growing up in the meantime. 
One important factor to be considered at present through the whole 
State, and especially the eastern part, is what will become of the land 
that previously has grown chestnut. Careful study should be made of 
silvicultural conditions in these regions, followed by an attempt to obtain 
a stand of a desirable species that will replace the chestnut. Otherwise 
the tree weeds and other factors will interfere and will increase indirectly 
the damage done by the canker. 
THE OUTLOOK 
At present we know of nothing that will prevent the extermination 
of the American chestnut tree. Every measure of control that has been 
tried has been abandoned north of West Virginia and the Potomac River. 
Some persons have expressed the belief that nature herself will intervene 
to prevent destruction of the species; the virulence of the pathogen will 
abate, the resistance of the host will be increased, or natural enemies — 
insects or fungous parasites — will destroy, or at least check, the pathogen. 
Up to the present, however, there has been no indication of relief along 
any of these lines. But we do not believe that the ingenuity of our 
scientists has been exhausted; that further research will bring to light 
some method of combating the disease is not beyond the limit of proba- 
bility. Such research not only should be continued, but also should be 
augmented; even if effective control measures will not be evolved until 
it is too late to save the present stand of. chestnut, they will be of 
service in combating other forest epidemics which will undoubtedly come 
in the future. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
The writers wish to acknowledge their indebtedness to Professors Reddick 
and Whetzel, of the Department of Plant Pathology, New York State 
