The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-06-12
THE CHESTNUT BLIGHT.
Especial to The Citizen. }

NOpeClal 10 Inc CltlZen.
Philadelphia, June 10.-The chest
nut tree bark disease has fully con-
firmed the unfavorable opinion re-
garding its destructiveness created
at the beginning of it's appearance
in Pennsylvania, by reason of its
gradual but certain spread over
large section of the Keystone State.
1t is said that there are counties in
South Eastern Pennsylvania in which
fully 10 per cent. of the native
chestnut is infected. Approaching
the central and western counties, the
percentage dwindles to very small
figure, and 1t is in that section
where the most successful work to-
wards It's control and eradication can
be done. 1t is at points where the
infected trees are but very few in
number and far apart that especial
efforts should be made to locate and
wipe out the diseased trees. By
working in the territory where the
infection is only slight, the blight
can be checked and it's further
spread effectually halted, II
there is no relaxation of the vigil
ance of the State authorities and
continued cooperation of timber
owners for a year or two. While
there may be a diversity of opinion
upon many points relating to the
treatment of the menacing situation.
1t is generally conceded that at this
time the best course to pursue is to
have the field agents of the Penn
sylvania Chestnut Tree Blight Com
mission scout all portions of the
| state to locate the points of the in
lection, and report the results to the
l
GUS action wherever the blight may
be found in destroying the diseased
| trees. When infected trees are fell
ed and the bark burnt and the ad-
jacent timber is kept under close
surveillance, according to instruc-
tions, the remaining timber will
probably be saved.
! New York and New Jersey exper-
fences indicate very forcibly that In
difference or delay will certainly oc-
casion disastrous losses.
| The field agents now travelling
through the various counties of the
Commonwealth in search of the
| blight have been trained for the
special work, and 1t will be mutually
| advantageous for all persons inter-
| ested to cooperate in the task of
controlling the disease.
The spread and nature Of the dis
ease has been the live theme of for
estry experts since it's appearance in
New York State in 1904, and Penn
sylyania friends of Forestry conser-
vation are determined to do all that
/ lies within their means to check it's
! further advance westward. The
! Commission has largely augmented
its field force and earnestly requests
the help and hearty cooperation
which the important economic prob
lem so fully deserves.
1t is especially important that the
District and Field Agents of the
commission should be promptly in
| formed as to all suspected cases
of blight. If there are any doubts,
whatever, regarding its identifica-
tion or If the representatives of the
commission cannot be located with
out delay, the commission should be
addressed at 1112 Morris Building,
Philadelphia, in order that the in
yestfgation can be expedited, and the
proper remedial agency applied.
This is the season when the blight
will spread rapidly, if unchecked,
and there is no class of persons who
do not have vital interest in for
estry protection; consequently an
awakening to the seriousness of the
dilemma is of the greatest value and
will result in much public good.
The commission has extended
grateful acknowledgements to the
press for the invaluable service it has
rendered in calling the attention of
the public to the chestnut blight, and
recognizes that it is an almost in
dispensable factor in the campaign
against this new, but terribly de-
structive fungous disease that threat
ems to exterminate all of our beauti-
full and valuable chestnut trees. II
, is a matter of serious Importance
and the public generally should
combine with the state authorities
in combating the disease.