Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-27
The White Pine Blister
Rust Prevalent in Maine

The federal inspection in Maine dur
ing the past season relative 10 the
white pine blister rust shows con-
clusively that this most destructive OF
white pine diseases is prevalent In
practically every section of the State
where the white pine Is grown to any
extent, reports State Horticultural
CLYDE L. Wilkins, who says:
"Mr. Posey, who had charge of the
inspection work in Maine. found the
first infections in the extreme southern
part of the State around Kittery and
York. From there he worked North as
far as Rangeley, keeping at a limited
distance from the New Hampshire line
and finding infections at nearly every
locality visited. Some of the towns In
this route that are most badly infected
are Saco, Biddeford, Lowell, South
Paris, Locke's Mills, Bethel. Gilead,
Rumford, Byron and Rangeley. From
Rangeley he carried the inspection
work to the interior part of the State
and also few towns along the coast.
Due to the lack of time and the great
extent of the pine area in Maine, this
work had to be done In very nmlteo
way. Some of the most badly infected
towns are as lOIlOWS.
"In Penobscot county the disease was
found in Millinocket, Bangor. Comma,
Exeter and Dexter, for the most part on
wild currants and gooseberrles; IN
Hancock county, the territory around
Ellsworth was found to be infected as
well as the Island of Mount Desert, es-
pecially in the vicinity of Bar Harbor;
in Piscataquis county, several ln1ec-
tons were found in the vicinity oi
Greenville; also around Dover and FOX
croft; in Somerset county, the disease
was found in the towns OF Plttsnelo'
Hartland and Fairfield; in kennepec
county, the cities of Watervllle, Au-
gusta. Hallowell and Gardiner; in An
droscoggin county, Lewiston, Auburn,
Liyermore, Leeds and Lisbon; in Knox
county, Rockland, Rockport and Cam
den: in Lincoln county. Wiscasset; IN
Sagadahoc county, Bath; in Cumber-
land, Brunswick, Portland, Gorham ana
New Gloucester.
1.-THE farthest north that the disease
is found is in the vicinity of MILL.
nocket, but there is little doubt that the
infected area extends great deal lar
Their north into the pine growing areas
of Aroostook county and possibly INTO
the woods of Canada.
There is plainly great need for ade-
uuate State laws and appropriations 10
aid the horticultural inspectors IN or
der that they may follow up the work
of the government and hinder the
spread of the disease beyond the area
already infected. OF course the most
practical method of control is destroy
ing the currants and gooseberies. but
due to the extent to which these plants
are found in our forests and swamps,
this would be a very difficult undertake
ing unless unanimous action is taken
right away. Horticultural inspectors
should also be given power to inspect
any territory, whether private or pub
tic, where pines are growing, and then
to destroy or cause to be destroyed any
affected pines, and all wild currants
and gooseberries.
Massachusetts has already made
appropriations to prevent the spread of
this disease in that states and it would
seem that in the State of Maine where
so great an area is devoted to the
growing of pine immediate measures
should be taken at once to at least
make an attempt to control this dis
ease"