The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-18
TREE KILLING FUNGUS FOUND.
IT IS NAMING THE FINE CHEST
NUTS IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK.

Chief Forester Merkei Sends specimen
to Washing tou--It Seems to De Fara'
site Preung on Live Tissue-Widespresd
Damage Has Been Done Already
In the past month Hermann w. Msrkel,
chief forester Of the Zoolo gical Park,
has noticed that on some Of his hns
chestnut trees the leaves Of many branches
were whitening. little later they seemed
to DO quite dead. An examination Into the
cause Of this very serious condition re-
vealed the presence OF fungoid growth
which attacks the bark Of tree branch,
usually near the trunk, completely rings
1t, and quickly kills the entire branch from
that point upward. Within few days
from the first visible sign OF attack branch
was brown and dead.
1t was noticed that great number OF
fine chestnut trees, had been attacked.
The Department Of Agriculture at Wash
ington was appealed to for information
and advice. The leading mycologist OF
the department, Mrs. Flora W. Patterson
replied as follows:
@The specimen has been examined by the
mycologist, who reports that tho diseAsed
condition appears to be due to the fungus
present upon II, Q Cytosporo. No species
Of this genus has been reported a. injurious
to chestnuts, but closely related species
arc parasitio upon other deciduous trees:
We have recently had similar material
from New jersey, and IN that instance
entrance through wounds ocoasioned by
inseots, or due to some mechanical injury.
but In your specimen 1t seems moro
probable that the fungus Is true parasite.
1T would be we'll before spraying with
Bordeaux mixture to cut away and burn
be able to hold the disease in check, and at
least prevent It's spreading to neighboring
trees In the nursery. Cultures have been
started Of the fungus, and anything 81
interest 10 observed you shall be Informed.
1t being apparent that 1t would be useless
for the Geological Society to spend large
sum Of money In spraying its hundreos
| Of giant chestnut trees unless neighbortng
forests were similarly treated, Mr.. Merkel
| examined the other section OF the Bronx
Park forest. 1t was found that Throughout
the Botanical Gardens, the area between
those grounds and the Geological Park,
and in portions OF Pelham Bay Park the
| fungus was already at work on the chest
nut trees In the manner described above,
On consulting the nearest authorities
| differences OF opinion were discovered.
Prof. Southwiok, the entomologist Of the
Manhattan Park Department, declare d
that the fungus had been known for years
as parasite on other trees than chestnuts.
and that 1t Ii now too Late u the season
to kill the new crop Of spores by the spray
ing process. One Of the botanists OF the
Botanical Gardens believed that the death
Of chestnut branches might not be the direct
result Of the fungus. He thought that In
all probability the branches had been
winter killed. Martin Schenok, chief
engineer Of the Park Department, Is
thoroughly alarmed by the killing OF sew
eral chestnut trees outright In Pelham
Bay Park, and Is anxiously awaiting q
final decision as to what shall be done to
save the trees.
The executive committee Of the Zoo
logical Society, through Charles T. Barney,
chairman, has directed the Geological Park
officers to use all possible diligence in asoer-
tanning what remedy to apply. and when
found to apply 1t to all the chestnut trees
| in the Zoolo gioal Park, regardless OF trouble
and cost. Mr. Merkel is expecting further
information from the Department OF Agri.
culture regarding the life history Of the
| fungus, and above all the precise period
when it's spores can be most effectively
attacked with the proposed spray OF sui
fate Of copper, or Bordeaux mixture.
Meanwhile, large force Of man is en-.
gagged in cutting of the fungus killed
branches and burning them, and II s the
present intention of the chief forester
to proceed at once with the spraying process