Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-29
Commissioner Ring Talks
On Pine Tree Blight.
Situation In Maine Serious
Disease Battles Experts.
Town Of Unity Wants Gate Placed
at Railroad Crossing.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Thursday, July 80, at 10 A. M.

Hon. f. E. Ring, Commissioner of
Forestry, at his office at the State
House said Saturday, in regard to the
nine tree blight which is causing such
widespread concern throughout Maine
ard all New England:
81 do not wish to enter the class of
the alarmists or to say anything that
will discourage the owners of a pine
growth, whether it is a small clump OF
trees for ornamental purposes or a
stand of commercial pines. | do be-
heve. however, that this disease is
spreadng throughout all sections of
the state and the condition niece ssarily
causes some alarm.
81 have devoted considerable time of
late to The study of the question:, have
consulted freely experts who can usu-
allv detect and determine the cause
and nature Of tree disease, but in the
case Of the pine tree blight l have up
&C. this time been unable to find any
on, Who knows much about it, except
as il appears to the naked eye of all
who have occasion to note the trouble.
"Having occasion a few days ago to
drive some ~ odd miles in PenobscOt
county, | took particular notice of the
mines along the way. There was not
a mile travelled that l did not notice
evidence Of the blight among the pines
in sight, and it is fair 10 presume that
the trouble continued into the heart
Of such stands as We're affected upon
the edges.
Il took particular notice of the size
OF the trees affected and found that
as a whole the blight was more ex-
tensive among the younger growth
and particularly so with the small
seedlings IF one to three years Of age
"Another thing | noticed was that
il was often the case that there might
he one or two trees quite badly affect
ed ard then would come a clump close
by with no sign whatever of the blight
This phase of the situation makes it
somewhat perpleXng to the extent to-
which the disease is communicable.
MANY inquiries come to the depart
men;, and while the first complaints
came from the southern counties, let
ters are now coming from all over the
State. Sometimes specimens Of the
diseased needles are incloSed with the
letters and all samples bear the same
stamp of the disease, reddish brown
or yellow tinge.
CAS- soon as | learned of the trouble
last fall | started an investigation and
cooperatcd So far as | could with the
United States department which sent
men 10 Maine to learn of the extent of
the blight and study its conditions.
These men spent some time in the
work. but failed to get but little light
on the subject
while the blight did not make its
appearance to any alarming extent
until 1907 it has undoubtedly been
working among the trees for four or
five years. Winter killing from the eff
feet of the severe winter of 1867 was
suggested as a cause. but that appar-
emily had nothing to do with it, as
trees that were healthy last year have
this year succumbed to the disease.
Some instances are noticed where
the blight of last year is being over
come this year by the tree putting
forth new shoots of green beyond the
brown needles and apparently making
hard struggle to regain their nor
NAL healthy condition. This is en-
Couraging to an extent and the trees