Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-08
INSECT INJURY TO TREES.
Damage Done Especially to Chest
nuts and Pines.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. June 7.-(Spe-
cial.)-The scientific division Of the Agri-
cultural Department has prepared an ar
ticle on Insect injury TO chestnut and pine
trees In Virginia Maryland. and other
states. which is Of vast interest to the
| farmers and planters in those sections.
/ This article deals with the extensive de-
struction OF the pine and spruce forests
IN the United States. particularly In that
portion which is southeast OF the Blue
Ridge. and to a smaller extent. of chest
nut trees in the same and other regions
1 his injury has been very generally at
tributed 10 insects and there IS evidence
that certain wood and bark boring species
have largely contributed to the work OF
destruction. Tho death of the chestnuts
has been laid TO the account of the bu-
prestd. while the death OF the conifcrous
tree has i'm like manner been accredited
to the scoytid bark-beetle.
+. II. Chittcndcn. who is the author OF
the article mentioned. states that he has
always felt certain degree OF scepticism
as 10 whether perfectly healthy forest
growth would, save In exceptional cases,
succumb TO insect attack. and were not
this view shared by others il might sound
Ike hereSy to say that the insects men
toned are perhaps not the original cause
or the injury. There is more than suspi-
cion that predisposing agency has been
az work i'm causing a weakened condition
OF the timber Of the infested region.
Whatever has brought this about, there
Is every appearance that the insects in
question have multiplied i'm such numbers
that they were forced TO attack living. if
not healthy. plants or perish. as they be-
long to groups that do not develop in
timber that has been dead long enough
Tor the bark TO become separated from
the wood.
Such enfeebled condition might be
caused by bacterial or fungous disease
or IL might be due to n variety of other
elements, among which might be num-
bered too close growth, defective drain
age. insufiiciency or superabundance of
subterranean moisture too great dryness:
or, again. IL might be produced by dry
spell. suddenly followed by an unusually
wet one, or vice versa. In the present
case il seems that the soil had undergone
same change that has interefered with
the growth of the trees, or that a combi-
nation OF unfavorable atmospheric and
soil conditions has accomplished the sup
posed predisposing debility. The wither-
ing and dying of leaves. induced by a
spell OF hot. dry weather, following cool
might be provocative OF this debility
Possibly 'pine-blight," or what is known
as winter dessication. might explain the
original injury TO this class OF trees
4 peculiar feature of what may be
called the primary insect injury is that
ii is due very largely TO native species
not previously known TO be injurious.
The report maintains that las usual in
so many similar instances, these cases
of forest-tree injuries are not brought TO
the attention of entomologists until too
late for thorough investigation or expert
ment."
In 1891 Mr. w. H. Farley wrote that
chestnut trees I'm BOutetourt county. Va,
were suffering from the attacks Of neisn-
boring insects. The following year Mr..
Gardiner c. Hubbard sent a piece OF the
bark of chestnut from his suburban resi-
denCe near Washington. from which the
Department of Agriculture reared in the
following spring many specimens OF
Agrilus blineatus. In June, 1888, Mr.. j.
A. Wedderburn, of Washington, VINO
owns property in Virginia, reported Sc
rious Injuries from insects to trees. par
Several visits were made by chronological
experts TO the regions infected. but In
spite OF every effort on the part OF the
Department Of Agriculture, no additional
facts OF value were learned.
The department hoped tnat the full Ire
economy of the chief depredator, which
proved to lie the buprestid beetle, might
he traced, as well as the causes which
led up TO the attacks, but this nope was
not realized.
Very recently the Department of Agri-
culture learned that insect depredators
have attacked cedar and sassafras, and
the report has come from Northern III
nois that oak trees there have been SINH
larly attacked. 1t Is also said that some
of the timber IN Michigan is affected.
Judge p. w. Strother. of virginia; VINO
has been here for several days, left to-
day. and stops over at Culpeper to see
relatives. While here he was given
special interview with the President, en-
dorsed by one of the nearest friends Nc
Kinley has, and was again at the White
House yesterday and saw the PRESIDENT
What that portends is sign meant, ana
the Judges object is said to be source
of uneasiness among some who have not
been so consistent as he has.