93 



been killed by the blight and every tree in the orchard is killed or 

 affected by the disease. On adjoining tracts over 5,400 infected 

 trees have been cut and there are a number of others in process of 

 removal, radiating in all directions from the orchard as a center 

 to a distance of three miles. In other words, since 1908, the few- 

 cases of infection brought into this orchard have spread three 

 miles at least and more than 6,000 trees have become infected. 



Another infection of 143 trees was found in Elk County. 

 These infections are interesting in showing the rate at which the 

 blight may travel in healthy timber. It is thought that three trees 

 at the center of infection were diseased in 1909, although it is pos- 

 sible that one of these trees was already infected in 1908. In 1910, 

 27 additional trees were infected; in 191 1, 50 additional trees, and 

 in 1912, 228 additional trees. The disease spread in all directions 

 from the center of infection to a distance of 700 feet. The same 

 rapid spread has marked the progress of the blight everywhere. A 

 few infected trees upon a tract will mean more infected trees in 

 each successive year until the stand is completely destroyed. In 

 many stands around Philadelphia it is hard to find a healthy tree. 

 Unless some action is taken that will be the condition in this locality. 



These infections have all been removed and it is the expecta- 

 tion that by the end of January, 191 3, all scattered spot infections 

 will be removed from the territory west of the line previously 

 mentioned, and that, to the best of our knowledge, these western 

 counties will be free from blight. In 1913 the field force will be 

 concentrated on the advance line and the work will be carried east- 

 ward. The commission has the power to compel the removal of 

 infected trees. In the western part of the State this was used in the 

 few cases where it was necessary. As a rule, however, the owners 

 are not only willing but anxious to get rid of the infected trees, and 

 our field men are given hearty support by individuals, granges and 

 other organizations. The timber owners of Elk County had printed 

 and posted an announcement that the chestnut blight had been found 

 in the locality and warned the people to be on the lookout for it. 



On the other hand, the commission has deemed that it was only 

 just to place agents in the eastern part of the State where the 

 ravages of the blight are most seriously felt. The commission has 

 had an agent for a short time at least in each of the eastern counties 

 of the State but their time has been taken up principally by those 

 who requested an inspection of their timber with the view of de- 

 termining the amount of blight infection and the best method to be 

 pursued in combating it and realizing on the timber. 



This display is a part of the educational work which is being 

 carried on for the purpose of acquainting the timber owners with 

 the appearance of the blight disease. A similar exhibit was made 

 in about thirty of the county fairs of the State and the appreciation 

 of the public was so clearly shown that next year it is the intention 

 of the commission to continue and perhaps increase this phase of 

 the work. Many of the Teachers* Institutes now going on were 



