Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-16
RUST IS
GRAVE MENACE To
WHITE PINE TREES
American Forestry Association
Warns That the Disease DC.
ours in Two Localities
in Vermont.

Washington, Dec. 12.-Declaring that
the white pine trees of the United States
and Canada are threatened with destruc-
ton by disease, the American Forestry
association to-day issued the following
warning to its members in every State
in this country and every province in
Canada:
Four recent serious outbreaks OF the
white Pine blister rust on currant bushes
in Massachusetts and New York nave
called attention sharply to the alarming
character OF this disease and the eco
nonic loss which It threatens In the
northeastern and western United States
unless 1t can be brought under control
within the next two years. This disease
has been known for some years. having
been introduced at many points on white
pine nursery stock imported from Ger
many. The disease first established it
self at Geneva. n. =, in 1905. In 1899 ex-
tensive importations Of diseased white
pine nursery stock were located and de-
stroycd in New York and other eastern
states and warnings issued broadcast
against further Importation of white pine
from Europe. In spite of these warnings
importation continued even from the par
ticular nursery in Germany which was
definitely known to be the main source
of disease, until finally in 1912 all such
importation was stopped by federal law.
Whether this law was passed too late
remains to be seen, as it depends on
whether the disease already established
in the United States can be stamped out.
The white pine blister rust affects the
eastern white pine, the western white
pine, the sugar pine and. indeed, all Of
the so-called five-leaf pines, producing
cankers on the stems and branches. kill
ing young trees and manning and dis
figuring old ones. It also produces a leaf
disease of currant and gooseberry
bushes. The fungus causing the disease
must live for a part of it's life on pine
trees and part of its life on currants
and ~gooseberries. The disease cannot
spread from one pine tree to another,
but must pass first to currant bushes
and then back to pine.
In Europe the disease has made the
culture of American white pine imprac-
ticable in England, Denmark. and Hol-
land, and has seriously handicapped its
cultivation in Germany. Since the trees
which 1t attacks include three Of the
most important timber trees Of the Unit
ed States, the loss which this disease
will produce if unchecked is uncalculable.
Fortunately, the disease is not now
known to be present west of Buffalo. y.
Y, but its ultimate spread to the vast
Pacific coast is certain If it Is not check
ed in the eastern States. The disease
now occurs in three localities in New
b. JJap,nSbira fun IN Earp1nrt tUp in Com
necticut. five in New York, one in Penn
sylvania. and three in Ontario. Canada
At one point in Ontario. two In New
York. two in New Hampshire and two
in Massachusetts,, the disease is present
on currants in sufficient quantity to
be serious.
The disease is comfortable at this stage
by the destruction of the diseased white
pines or the complete destruction of all
currant and gooseberry bushes in the vi
cinity. Whether or not this simple &C
ton can be accomplished depends upon
the legal authority by tho various state
horticultural inspectors concerned. If the
inspector is not armed with authority
to destroy either currant bushes or a
few diseased White pines with or without
the consent of the owner, all efforts
/ at control Will ne unaN alll1S, as Il SIZE -
person. by permitting diseased pines or
currant to remain on his place can null
lily the work of an entire well-disposed
community. The immediate issue. then
Is whether the several States will see
that their inspectors have sufficient au-
thority or whether still another imported
disease shall be added to the already
long list OF undesirable fungi and insect
imrrigrHnts. and the phite pines of the
United States be reduced from their pres
ont l.!gh standing to that of inferior trees
The Vermont State forestry depart
ment is inspecting the places where the
white pine blister rust has gained a
foothold, and has thus far found the
owners Of the affected timber ready to
cooperate in efforts to control and STAMP
out the disease. The department is con
fident that it will be held In check IN
Vermont If other States exercise similar
preventive measures, The disease has
not got away from the localities In his
State where fiyst discovered.
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY