The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-20
THE DYING PINE FORESTS.

"" A4S
Insects tho Causc-1nvesttgatod by tho
Experiment. Station Entomoioglst.
For the Inhiigmcer.
The widespread and universal death
OF pine timber which has been going
on in portions Of Hampshire, Hardy,
Grant, Pendleton aud Mineral counties,
West Virginia; Bath, Highland, Au-
gusta and Rockingham counties, Vir-.
ginia, and also in portions Of Maryland
during the last two years, has been a
very remarkable occurrence, exciting
much curiosity and comment as to the
probable cause. At the present time,
the conditions, in the best pine timberod
districts in the affected region, is really
alarming, for il the trouble continues
there will not DO a living pine OF any
value in all OF that pine numbered por-
ton OF West Virginia and Virginia w.
ing between the Allegheny range
proper and the Blue Ridge, and OK
tending at least 100 miles southwest
from Maryland, q total area, possibly, OF
COCO square miles.
Between the2d and 18th OF this month,
l Travelled about 14O miles through the
counties OF Hampshire, Hardy, Grant
and Pendleton for the purpose OF OBJ
serving the condition Of the pine forests
and to investigate the CAUSE OF the
trouble. i examined large numbers OF
the healthy, dying and dead trees, and
my conclusions are, that their death is
caused primarily by tho attack oi a
single species Of insect, a bark beetle,
(the scientific name of which is Dem
d-octinus .trontGlis) which has, under
favorable conditions, increased to such
great numbers that they attack per-
iectly healthy trees, and by their
operations in and under the bark on
the upper portion OF the trees, pro-
duco a diseased condition, which ut
tracts hundreds OF other species to
their assistance, and the death and de-
s.ruction Of tho tree SO attacked is in
The trouble begins in a healthy forest
by one or two isolated trees or groups
Of trees dying the first year. Countless
OF little beetles breed in these infested
trees and emerge through the bark 10
attack other healthy ones, which die
the next year in great numbers, and by
the third year, as shown in the south
crn portion of Pendleton county, the
entire forest is killed for miles around.
The best and healthiest yellow ana
pitch pine trees seem to BIO attacked
first; after which, the trouble extends
to the scrub pine. and later to the
white pine.
Had wo known OF the trouble when it
first commenced, possibly the spread
could have been prevented, to some
extent, by tho introduction of parasites
or natural enemies OF the destructive
insect; or valuable tracts OF timber
might have boon saved by the cutting
and burning OF the first infested trees.
At the present time, however, it is too
late to think of recommending or at
tempting 10 apply q remedy. The
trouble has extended. lar beyond all
human control, and nearly all the valu-
able timber is either dead or dying.
There is one thing can be done, how
ever, to prevent Il total loss OF the mill
ions OF dollars worth OF timber now
dying; that is, for owners to make an
earnest effort TO convert all the best
trees into lumber or square timber
within Il year after they die. The lum-
Der can be stacked up and saved for any
longth OF time, while The standing trees
would be worthless the second year
after they die, owing to tho large boring
grubs, and to decay.
While the destruction OF the fine tim
Der III Il deplorable fact, it is only one
Of tho many resources OF the region
mentioned. There are yet remaining,
in comparatively good health aud yigor,
immense forests OF white and chestnut
oak and other valuable timber; the
bark of tho chestnut oak, at the present
time, being q very important item OF
revenue. The region embraces some OF
tho richest and most beautiful valleys
in theiworld; and alarSe portion Of the
highlands now covered with dead pine,
il cleared and sown tograss, and stocked
with sheep would, ii properly managed,
add greatly to the wealth and prosperi-
ty of the now unfortunate owners. The
great mortality among the pine, spruce
and locust timber OF the state within
the last ten years, is q sad example OF
the millions Of dollarsc&orth Of proper
ty which may DO destroyed by some OF
our smallest forms OF insects. The i'm.
%portance, therefore, OF conducting in
v%estigations with q view OF preventing
like devastations in the future, can not
be doubted. 1t has been n neglected
field OF study by entomologis:s, mainly
on accounted its Wlstpess; hence there
is much to bo learned by investigation
and experiments.
We feel 4 deep interest in the pres
.ervation OF our forests, and believe that
much loss may be prevented by prompt
action in utilizing some of Natures
methods; one Of which is the introduc.
ton OF beneficial insects. To be sue:
cessiul in this, MS in tho application OF