42 A.WTAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT 01 AGRICULTURE, 1936 
at East Orange and the garage for boosing eradication equipment and motor 
vehicles al West Orange were merged with the field headquarters. The New 
York state leader's office was kept In White Plains but was moved to another 
building where office and garage space could be combined. 
INFORMATIONAL ACTIVITIES 
Considerable publicity was given the Dutch elm disease during the fiscal year, 
both in the press and in specialized magazines. Numerous radio and press 
releases were made through the Office of Information of the Department Biker 
mounts containing material to Illustrate the nature of the fungUS and its carriers 
were distributed to individuals who could he of assistance in the eradication 
work. Exhibit material was on display in connection with the National Flower 
Show at Baltimore, Md., at a National Emergency Council exhibit in Pa' 
N. J., ami at several other meetings. 
WHITE PINE BLISTER RUST CONTROL 
BLISTER RUST REACHES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 
The outstanding feature in the spread of white pine blister rust during the 
year was the discovery of this disease on sugar pine in northern California on 
June 29, 19M6. This is the first time the rust ha- been reported from California. 
Wflbile its establishment in this State constitutes a direct threat to about 
2,000,000 acres of valuable sugar pine forests, the eventual spread of the rust 
into California had been anticipated and the protection of the BUgar pine was 
already under way. with the result thai initial control has already been estab- 
lished on Over 4<iii.(mhi acres of these California forests. 
During 1985 blister rust was identified en Bibes in Curry County. <• 
approximately 50 miles from the California herder, where it had previously 
been found in 1929 and 1981. It was alsni discovered on RiOtifl about 65 miles 
from the California line on the Rogue River National Forest in Jackson County. 
Of the 408,657 acres of valuahle sugar pine forests already protected in 
California and Oregon, 85,158 acres were brought under protection during 1!>."..~» 
and 7. hoi acres were given a second working. The eradication operations were 
carried cut in cooperation with the Federal Forest Service and the States 
concerned. The continued vigorous prosecution of this control work will make 
it possible to prevent the losses that might occur if control methods were not 
applied until after the disease began to appear. 
The protective measures which have proved economical and effective in 
preventing blister rust losses in all pine-growing regions consist of the destruc- 
tion of currant and gooseberry plants (Ribes) growing in or near the pine 
stands ami the maintenance of the areas in ;i relatively Rfoet-free condition. 
This R$oe*-eradication program can thus he undertaken in advance of the 
arrival of blister rust, ami that plan is followed wherever possible. 
ABOUT HALF OF THE WESTERN WHITE PINE AREA PROTE( TKD 
In the western white pine area of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and 
western Montana hlister rust was found during the year to he generally dis- 
tributed on the sticky currant. Ribes visooaiasimum, an upland specie-. Heavy 
infection was found on two stream-type species, />'. }nfinhir> and B. inem 
Lake Creek, north of Hull Lake, on the Kootenai National Forefil in Montana, 
ami pine Infection was also located for the first time in this forest. The 
number of locations of known pine infection centers in this general area was 
Increased from 129 to 206, distributed in or near the following national forest 8: 
Lolo, i: Clearwater, ."l ; St. Joe, 110; Coeur d'Alene, IT: Kaniksu, 12; Cabinet, 
B : Kootenai. 2j and \ near Mount Spokane. These discoveries represent B 
slighl extension of known locations westward to the Mount Spokane area and 
northward in the Kaniksu National Poreel in Idaho. 
The best of the white pine land and timber in this western white pine area 
occupies approximately 2,710,000 acres, about one half of which Is In public 
Ownership. Control efforts are aimed at establishing and maintaining control 
of the disease on this area In cooperation with the Forest Service, the National 
Part Service, the States, and the landowners, so as to make it safe tor the 
continued production of white pine. During 1835 (table 15), 272,718 acres 
cleared of Ribes, bringing the total acreage covered since the work was begun 
