6 NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
A Serious Danger to All the Pine Trees of the 
North Shore---is White Pine Blister Rust | 
Ti& White Pine Blister rust is a fungus disease, native 
to Europe and according to the Committee on Forestry 
and Shade Ilrees of the Salem Chaa.ber of Coxmerce, it 
has rendered the growing of our native white pine in 
England, Denmark, Holland, and parts of Germany im- 
practicable. The members of the Chamber Forestry Com- 
mittee referred to are, Wiiliam R. Colby, chairman; 
Philip Horton Smith, Alfred W. Putnam, Francis 8. 
Benjamin and Albert E. Cole. 
According to their statements, this disease was 1m- 
ported to this country on young nursery stock of white 
pine, and plantings made from such stock in the states of 
New York, Pennsyivania, New Hampshire, Vermont, 
Connecticut and Massachucetts have been found to be 
infected with this disease. P.antirgs in other states are 
under suspicion. ‘Tnis danger thieacens the extinction of 
all the pine trees on the North Shore. 
Untike the chestnut b.ight, the btister rust cannot 
spread directly from one pine to another pine. It has 
two hosts; one stage of the disease lives in the bark of 
five-leaved pines, the other develops on the leaves of cur- 
rant and gooseberry bushes, both the wild and the domes- 
tic species. Lhe stage of the d.sease on currants and 
gooseberries can spread to other currants and gooseberries, 
and also to pines. ‘There is but cne stage ot the disease 
on the pines, and this can spread only back to cu.rants 
and gooseberries. ‘lherefore the disease has a vulnerable 
point of atiack, name y, the complete elimination of one 
or the other of the ho:ts in the cect.ons where the disease. 
is found. ‘The pine forests and trees as a whole, are in- 
finitely more valuable than the currants and gooseberries ; 
therefore, the latter are the ones to be destroyed in ihe 
sections where the di-ease has teen found. Where the 
disease has been located, the safe thing to do is to destroy 
all currants and gooseberries in the “immediate vicin.ty, 
whether or not they are infec ed, as well as all pines that 
are infected. 
The total distance that the dis-ase will spread in one 
season 1s not and probably cannot be definitely det. rmined, 
but one po.nt is certain, namely, that it will surely sp.ead 
in this country, wherever pines and currants or goose- 
berries are found in the same vicinity. Wild currants 
and gooseberries are tou-d practically all over the c_un- 
try which makes the spread certain, unless drastic meas- 
ures are taken to prevent it. The maximum distance that 
the disease will carry from currant; and goo are a 
pines, and vice versa, has not been definitely proved, | 
certainly that distance is several hundred yards. 
The disease is also known to attack the white Dale, 
the Pacific Coast sugar pine, and the white pine of the 
northern Recky Mountain region. Trere are six other 
five-leaved pines which are believed to be susceptible. The 
value of the pines that will certainly be attacked in the 
United States is estimated by our National foresters to be 
over $425,C09,000. 
Trees of any age are liable to be attacked, which 
means the ultimate extinction of the five-’eaved pines, 
unless the rust is suppressed. 
However, foresters and pathologists are generally 
agreed that if adequate steps are at once taken against 
this disease, the planting of white pine need not be dis- 
continued. It is of course, the most valuable timber tree 
in the middle northern and north-eastern states. 
A few thousand dollars spent now will do more good 
than hundreds of thousands after the disease has secured 
a permanent foothold. Once it 1s thoroughly established, 
no amount of money will save the five-leaved pines where 
currants or gooseberries are associated with them. A 
vigorous and continuing effort now should completely 
eradicate the disease; at the least, it will so reduce its 
spread, as to make its control possible at a minimum cost. 
‘There was a time when the gypsy and brown-tail moths 
could have been exterminated, had the proper measures 
been applied. That opportunity was neglected with the 
result that, despite the subsequent expenditure of millions 
of dollars, we shall probably never be rid of those pests. 
The chestnut blight was neglected until it became so wide- 
ly scattered that control was impossible, and all of our 
chestnut trees are doomed, which means the loss of mil- 
lions of dollars. This was due to sheer neglect. Are we 
to lose our pines and pine-using industries in the same 
way? 
The Federal Government will be asked to make an 
appropriation of $50,000 for this work this year. ‘This is 
the minimum amount with which the task of suppression 
can be undertaken. The individual states will also be 
asked to do their share. Massachusetts, alone, has re- 
quested its legislature for an appropriation of $10,000 
to meet this emergency. With so many states already 
affected, the problem i is a national one, and every one who 
is interested in saving the white and other five-leaved 
pines should at once request his senator and representa- 
tive in Washington to secure this appropriation. He 
should also see that the proper authorities in his own 
state are given the money and power to cooperate to the. 
fullest extent with the Federal authorities in the work of 
suppression. 
In CrEATING the Inter-Departmental Board on Coast- 
a! Communications President Wilson has provided for a 
far-reaching plan to extend the governmental means of 
communications along the coast and to the insular pos- 
sessions to strengthen the national plans of defence and 
to save life and property. Such a broad plan should be 
« most valuable possession of the nation in times of peace 
as well as war. The operations of inter-linking wireless 
stations all over the country will place the authorities in 
a position to be in almost instant communication with 
every part of the nation. In event of severe storms, floods 
and fires, it has been found that communications by radio 
stations have been much more quickly established. The 
new board will have an important field of action and the 
pessibilities ahead are only short of marvelous. 
A definite campaign should be instituted against the 
Foreign Label in America; against those nominal repre- 
sentatives of foreign governments who defame and talk 
down American-made goods, or who use the paltry-paid 
foreign labor as a force to crush out the establishment of 
American manufactories, to compete with what is now, 
practically foreign monopoly of American Trade. If it 
requires a high protective tariff, then let us have a high 
protective tariff. 
Toys from Germany, matches from Sweden, wool 
from Scotland, perfumes from France, caviar from Rus- 
sia, sardines from Italy, cutlery from England. What 
blissful ignorance to believe that Americans cannot pro- 
vide a satisfactory article! Where is your faith in Amer- 
ica, you Americans?—-The Fra 
March 17, 1916. 
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