B. P. I.— 364. 
THE TREATMENT OF DAMPING-OFF IN 
CONIFEROUS SEEDLINGS. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Experiments have been carried on by the writer for several years 
in testing the effect of various chemicals upon the damping-off dis- 
eases of tender coniferous seedlings. These troubles are great obsta- 
cles to the successful production of such seedlings in large num- 
bers for use in replanting waste or unoccupied land. They are 
caused by a number of different fungi which are being studied and 
will shortly be described. 
The results of the first experiments, which were carried on entirely 
in the greenhouse, were taken as indications of what might be 
expected in actual nursery practice. It was felt, however, that the 
work should be extended to field conditions, and upon testing the 
preliminary results there it was found that they could be taken only 
as very meager and insufficient indications of the results to be 
obtained in the field. 
During the season of 1907, field experiments. were conducted in 
several nurseries of the New York Forest, Fish, and Game Commis- 
sion (one of which is operated in cooperation with the Forest Service 
of the United States Department of Agriculture) and of the Ver- 
mont State Forestry Commission, located, respectively, at Saranac 
Inn, N. Y., and Burlington, Vt. These experiments yielded very 
interesting results, but because of their preliminary nature it is felt 
that without further very rigid tests along similar lines they can not 
be accepted as furnishing conclusive proof of the comparative value 
of the chemicals used. 
The great interest centering about these diseases, however, makes 
of value every scrap of practical information concerning methods of 
prevention. Until conclusive results are obtained the present ones 
may therefore prove useful to nurserymen, but they should be 
_ accepted with the distinct understanding that they are preliminary 
and are subject to later modification. 
