A STUDY OF HEART-ROT IN WESTERN HEMLOCK. if 
This generally indicates that the largest sporophore marks the area 
of greatest decay and that the decay has traveled both ways. In any 
case, trees bearing more than one sporophore situated some distance 
from each other are not merchantable and should be cut down and 
burned or fire-girdled. _ 
The presence of sporophores on the tree is an indication of a fairly 
advanced stage of decay throughout a good portion of the tree. On 
the other hand, the absence of sporophores does not always indicate 
soundness. A few cases may occur where the tree is so old in decay 
that the sporophores have died and fallen away. The discoloration 
of the bark at the point of attachment or the hole left by the rotting 
‘Fig. 4.—An old sporophore of Echinodontium tinctorium on hemlock. Top view, showing the zonation 
and the relation to intensive decay. 
branch may readily be noted. The old sporophores, which have a 
remarkable resistance to decay, may be observed on the ground at 
the base of the tree. Pounding on the tree is a fairly accurate 
method of determining soundness, down to a particular stage of rot. 
In doubtful cases, remarkably accurate results may be obtained by 
pressing the ear Sumy against the tree while pounding. Previous 
to this, the bark should ibe removed over a small area in order to 
secure an uncushioned sounding point. 
Probably the most practical method for the average marking piicoe 
in the absence of visible defects, is the presence of red color a half inch 
or so within the dead branch stubs. This reddish coloration of the 
rot E. tinctorium is an index of an advanced stage, and its appearance 
so far out on the dead branch as to be detected by merely breaking 
