The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-03-09

There has appeared, during the past
few years, a virulent disease affecting
the chestnut tree and 1t is only known as
the Chestnut Bark Disease, or as Is fire.
quently called the Chestnut Blight. the
damage caused, mas bet one widespread,
and, in fact, the entire extinction of the
chestnut is threatened. Since the chest
nut is one of our most important TIMBER
trees, representing a stumpage value of
approximately S2,000,000 the seriousness
OF the situation is apparent. The damage
already caused amounts to about $50,0OO'
and the disease is rapidly spI eading. or
The chestnut bark disease is caused byls
a fungus, which grows in the inner BARK
spreading from the point of attack,
around the stem, until complete girdling'
takes place The dead bark is later cov-a-
cred with little reddish yellow pustules,l
tine 81 lie of pin head or larger, which,
are the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and
contain the spores that serve to trans-'e
init the disease to other paris of these
same tree, or to otner trees. These
spores gain entrance through cracks, or
abrasions Of the bark, terminate and
send their threadlike flaments through
the bark, breaking down the cell-struc-
ture, causing death and decay. -
This bark disease apparently started ms
the vicinity of New York City, radiatingi
out from that point until now nearly air
the trees in the vicinity of New Yorkh
City have been killed or are affected,
and the disease has spread as far northfi
as Massachusetts, and as far South as,
Maryland, with scattered infection Try
Virginia and West Virginia. 1t is esti-i
mated that the total loss up to 1911 wafi
over $25,C00G00 An investigation waSe
made last summer by the State ForesteThe
to determine the extent of the disease i'm
Maryland and the damage that has beer.
caused. 1t was found to be generally dis
tributed over Baltimore and Hartford
counties las far south as the Baltimore
q Ohio Railroad), all of Cecil county and |
through Kent, Queen anne and Caroline
counties, wherever the chestnut is COM
mon. At least three per cent of the |
chestnut trees in the counties named
were either killed or infected. 1t was
also found scattering in Carroll, Freder-
lex and Washington counties, as far as
the western boundary of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, and southwark as far as
line drawn through Garfield in Washing
ton county, Mt. Airy, Sykesvile, Eli
colt City and Baltimore. In this latter
named area, the only places of general
infection ware in The vicinity of Edge
mont, Pen Mar, and Thurmont. Outside
of these particular localities, probably
not more than one per cent of the trees
have become infected with the fungus.
Judging from the manner in which the
disease has spread in The past few years
as indicated by the age of the infections,
1t IS very probable that If something Is |
not done to check lis ravages, there will
scarcely be a living chestnut tree in
the eastern and central paris of the
State ten years hence.
The plan proposed for the work in this /
State is to check It's spread as much rs
possible, within the present area of gen.
eral infection, by cutting out and utiliz-
ing the diseased trees as far as possible,
and to establish a quarantine zone around |
this area of general infection TO prevent |
Its spread to those parts of the State |
that are now practically free from the |
pest. Where isolated trees, or small |
patches of the disease are found, they are
to be promptly removed to prevent its |
spread. The quarantine zone, which will |
be from ten 10 fifteen miles wide, will be |
examined, all diseased trees cut, the |
bark destroyed and then by close vigil
ance any temperance of infection will |
be promptly eradicated. In this way it is |
hoped that further damage may be great
ly reduced and a large portion of the |
State saved from the ravages of this |
mcs. destructive pest.
Pennsylvania, realizing the seriousness |
of the situation, has appropriated $275,OO0
for the control and eradication of the |
Chestnut Bark Diseaae. Ii is impeI- lve
that Maryland take active measures at
once for checking the disease, not only
for the proIeot ion of her own timber
resources, Dut IL Is duty sac owes 10
neighboring states to prevent its further |
extension.
A bill was Introduced in the House by |
Representative Cummings of Monigom-
cry county, on February Il, authorizing |
the State Board of Fore stry to take such
measures for the control of the Chestnut
Bark Disease, as seem most efficient,
and provides the sum of $4,000 for the
next two years to carry on the work. 1t
has been referred to the Ways and Means |
Committee. This bill is similar in its
provisions to the Pennsylvania law and
should have the active support of all in
terested in this important matter