Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-06-23
Government Scout Looking
For Signs Of Fungus Di-
sease Among White Pines
of Southern Idaho.
GOOsEBERRY WILL
MENACE FORESTS
White Pine Blister Rust
May be Carried to Idaho on
Fruit Bushes and Work
Much Harm.

L. M. Benbow, employed BY the
United States department of agricul-
ture, with headquarters at Boise.
was in town the latter part Of last
week, Mr.. Benbow 10 one Of the
picked men sent out by the depart
ment to hunt for signs Of white pine
blister rust, and told us the follow
about the disease:
The White Pine blister rust d
disease imported from Germany In
about 1900. II is fungus disease
which attacks only the awe needed
pines. There being several pines OF
that kind. 1t has caused great de-
struction in the countries Of North
ern Europe; II being almost impos-
sible to grow five needed pines In
that region In the last few years.
The disease has spread to the
United States and Canada, being In
troduced from Germany upon nurs-
cry stock.
Realizing the great value of the
standing white pine timber In this
country and knowing its value 40
last session appropriated 3300,000.00
reforestration tree, Congress at its
to fight and suppress the disease In
the United States.
1t Is estimated ut the present time
In the United States and Canada
that there 10 over half q billion dol
lars worth OF standing white pine
timber. This alone 10 sufficient
cause for the outlay OF considerable
money in an attempt to eradicate
the disease.
In Idaho alone the standing white
pine is valued at nearly 500. geo. 600
Or one-nfth of the entire white pine
'f the United States and Canada.
The disease itself is q peculiar or
sanism being similar In many re-
'pects to the fungi that cause wheat
'ust and cedar apple rust. They re-
luire two entirely different kinds OF
ost plants or plants upon which they
I've, to complete their life cycle. The
cultivated and wild varieties OF cur
ants and gooseberries acting ss the
Intermediate plant In the life of the
lister rust. For instance the rust
rowing upon the pine natures, tax
ng In some instances a. long a. six
ears. The spores produced by the
ust are yellow and very minuts In
Getting g0oseberries and currants
yer wide areas. II 10 impossible
Or these spores to live upon another
Inc.
The currants and goossbsrriss thus
Infected produce spores late In the
ummer or early fall which infect In
urn other pines. but which cannot
I've upon currants and gooseberriss.
1t may be seen from this that whom
he disease is once introduced into q
icinity upon either currant, goose
erry, or white pine nursery stock
will spread rapidly to the sur-
ounding territory.
A FIVE needed pine attacked be-
ore rs years of age is practically
ure to be killed. After rs years
erhaps only the part Of the tree
ttacked is killed.
Mr.. Benbow would be glad to CON-
with anyone desiring fur
Ter information ON the subject, or
ho would like a personal inspsc-
on of white pine trees, currsnt or
'oseberriss Of which they are at eli
and can be reached by
ter to Boise.
No trace Of the disease has yet been
und In Idaho. or In any state west
Minnesota. II In hoped none will
found. The government 10 doing
] share towards nravanfior