The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-09
ADEADLY FUNGUS
CHESTNUT BLIGHT
Tree Disease That Plays Havoc
in Cities and Rural Regions
Alike.
SHADE TREE LOSSES HEAVY
Getters of Certain Kinds of Tim
Der From Forests of Virginia
Losing Largely.


Tho fact that so many shade and
forest trees throughout tho United
States are dying is causing serious con-
Germ on the part of all who arc Inter-
csted In forestry. whether this interest
be caused merely because one Is a lover
OF tho nnc trees. which line our city
strceta, or whether one is the owner
OF commercial forest
1t Is appalling to note. as one drives
through various sections OF the coun-
try. the many splendid trees turning
prcinaturcly brown or yellow or being
entirely defolia;cd by some insect pest
or disease The ravagcs OF this pest
nrc very noticeable among the chestnut
and ash trees IN Virginia
: Grand specimens Of oak. elm. maple.
ash. chestnut-cvery variety or tree
almost Un som" localities ono variety
moro than othorsJ sharing the same
fate.
Professor q. Clinton. after painstak-
ing investigation. writes In general
way on this subject. To The Times
Dispatch readers. he says:
Millions OF dollars worth Of trees
have been destroyed b. these wrctcicd
foes within the past fcw years. re-
gardlcss OF the fact tHat millions Of
dollars are annually spent in tho on
deavor to prevent the destruction OF
our trees.
VARYING ESTIMATES OF LOSSES
IN VARIOUS SECTIONS
Certain writer's have attempted TO
estimate In money value tho loss
caused BY tho blight Of chestnut bark.
Just how this loss Is estimated is not
absolutely clear. However. IT is IN
tcrcsting 10 note that In 1905 one
writer estimated the damage In and
about New York City between $1,000.
600 and slO0O0.0co. In 1870? another
writer estimated the damage through
out parts OF the East at 100000
lie says: The damahc already done
In the States of New York. Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey. would not be
less than sl2.0O0.ooo"
In 1911 SIS, 900. 900 were given az a
conservative estimate OF tho financial
loss 10 the country Slo.o0o.0o0 be
ing the amount estimated FOR the state
OF Pennsylvania alone, allowing ST.
100000 for forest and s3.o0o.ooo for
ornamental trees In 1912 a writer
Zone Of the incu In charge OF the trees
OF tho New York Geological Park) said:
Tho loss throughout the area now in
feHted With chestnut bark disease is
fully 500, 100000"
DR.. r. T. Morris. Of Stamford, Conn,
who has Experimental with more dit
fercnt varieties OF chestnut trees than
an yone clsc ia that state. and who
has twenty siA kinds OF ch"stnuts In
his own orchards, says: III the blight
killed only the old trees ready FOR mar
het!ng the damage would not be very
great. Loss arises in part from the
irreBularity o! it's attack. Each sea p
son some trees. die. thereby making
cutting and marketing inconvcnicnt.
The market is often Slut.ed so that
they cannot be disposed OF to advan
tage. Further loss may arise in the
deterioration or the dead trees II they
arc not cut soon after death. through
decay started by other fungi and by
Insect depredations.
HEAVY LOSSES ~ TIMBER
IN VIRGINIA AND ELSEWHERE:
Millions Of to.t Of fine chestnut
timber. valuable for p!anking. piles,
telegraph poles and cord wood. will
be lost within the next Two Years"
continues pr. Morris. 81 tried to dis
pose Of abou; 900 chestnut trees, but
could not ind purchaser. and all
my neighbors are in the same predica-
mcnt" The type OF damage mentioned
Is iuconspicuous as compared with the
loss that occurs through the death or
trees which are not yet fit for com
mcrcial purposes and can be used only
for cordwood. The greatest loss is
caused whore future profits arc en-
tirely cut out by the death OF half
grown trees and sprout growth too
small for present use. II the disease
progresses in the future as actively
as in the past. the prospects or our
chestnut forests are very poor indeed.
This means serious loss. for the chest
nut ia one OF the most useful forest tire g
in all parts OF the country where 1t oc-
ours.
Besides tho loss from a commercial
point OF view, there Is the damage
caused to the shade and ornamental
trees, and to groves kept on estates
and parks, for aesthetic rather than
practical purposes We undoubtedly
have the disease with us. Now where
/ Is the. scientist to offer remedy?