Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-19
THE DYING PINE FORESTS.
Insects the Cause-TheIr work I"ves-
ticated by the Experiment station En-

INSECTS the Cause-rheir WORK h"ssS
t,rated by the Experiment station En-
tomologist.
sDscisl Correspondence Of he Reoisfsr.
MoEG ANrowN, w. VA, May 1.-THE
widespread and universal death OF pine
timber which has been going on III PoI-
tions of Hampshire, Hardy, Grant, ZEN
dleton and Mineral counties, west VIZ,
GINA, Bath, Highland, Augusta ana
Buckingham counties, Virginia, aud
also in portions of Maryland during the
last two years, has been very remark
able occurrence, exciting much curlosl-
ty and comment as TO the prooaole
cause. At the present time, the condi-
tions. in the best timbered districts IN
the affected region, is really alarming,
for il the trouble continues, there Will
not be a living pine of any value In all
of that pine timbered portion OF West
Virginia and Virginia lying between the
Allegheny range proper and the Biue
Ridge, and extending ut least 10 miles
southwest from Maryland, total area,
possibly, of six thousand square miles.
Between the I'd and 9TH OF this
month, / travelled about 140 miles
through the counties of Hampshire,
Grant and Pendleton for the purpose OF
observing the condition OF the pine
forests, and to investigate the cause OF
the trouble. l examined large num-
bers Of the healthy, dying and dead
trees, and my conclusions are: that
their death is caused primarily by the
attack of single species OF insect, a
bark beetle, (the scientific name OF
which is DendrOctiRlts frOntdliS) which
has, under favorable conditions, In
creased 20 such great numbers that they
attack perfectly healthy trees, and by
their operations in and under the bark
on the upper portion Of the tree, pro-
duce O diseased condition, which at
tracts hundreds OF other species to their
assistance, and the death and destruc-
ton OF the trees so attacked is inevita-
BILE.
The trouble begins in a healthy forest
by one or two isolated trees or groups
of trees dying the first year. Countless
millions of little beetles breed in these
infested trees and emerge through the
bark TO attack other healthy ones,
which die in great numbers, and by the
third wear, as shown in the southern
portion of Pendleton county, the entire
forest is killed for miles around. The
best and heslthiest yellow and pitch
pine trees seem to be attacked first;
after which, the trouble extends to the
scrub pine, and later to the white pine.
Had we known of the trouble when 1T
first commenced, possibly the spread
could have been prevented, to some eX-
tent, by the Introduction of parasites or
natural enemiSes Of the destructive In
sect; or valuable tracts of timber might
have been 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 attempting
to apply remedy. The trouble has
extended far beyond all human control,
and nearly all the valuable timber is
either dead or diving. There is one
thing can be done, however, to
prevent a total loss Of the millions OF
dollars worth of timber now dying: that
is, for owners TO make an earnest effort
to convert all of the best trees into lum-
Der or square timber within a year after
they die. The lumber can be stacked
up and saved for any length Of time,
while the standing trees would be
worthless the second year after they
die, owing to the large boring grubs,
and 10 decay.
While the destruction Of the pine
timber is deplorable fact, it is only
one of the many resources OF the region
mentioned. There are yet remaining,
in comparatively good health and vigor,
immense forests OF white and chestnut
oak and other valuable timber; the bark
of the chestnut oak, at the present time,
being a very important item OF revenue.
The region embraces some Of the richest
and most beautiful valleys in the world;
and large portion Of the highlands now
covered with dead pine, if cleared and
sown to grass, and stocked with sheep,
would, il properly managed, add greatly
to the wealth and prosperity OF the now
unfortunate owners. The great NOR
tally among the pine, spruce and locust
timber of the State within the
last ten years, is a sad example OF
the millions OF dollars worth OF
property which may be destroyed by
some of our smallest forms OF insects.
The Importance, therefore, Of conduct
ing Investigations with view Of pre-
venting like devastationS in the future,
can not be doubted. 1t has been neg
lected field of study by Entomologists,
mainly on account OF its vastness;
hence there is much to be learned by
investigation and and experiments.
We feel deep interest in the preser-
walton OF our forests, and belive 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
cessfu in this, as in the application OF
other preventiveS and remedies, we
must be notified of the first indications
OF trouble, and have the uDstinted CO.
operation and assistance OF the owners
Of the affected timber.
A. d. HOPKINS,