The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-07-21
WESTERN White
I PINE ENDANGERED
v,leral and State Authorities Making
Rfiot to Protect Forests from
Destruction.

Engaeed in the work of preventing
~ spread of white pine blister rust,
vhIch has found lodgment in Western
Warrington and along the coast of
British Columbia. to the great white
ulne belt Of Idaho, representatives of
IL United States department of agri-
Z 'snlture are now working in the terri
(, tory about Oroville.
Up to the present time the white
plne timber of Idaho and the sugar
3 nine stands of California have not
han attacked by the blister rust,
which has done such enormous dam
~ to the eastern white pine from the
Atlantic states to the Great Lakes
area. But department of agriculture
and forestry officials fear that the
disease may be carried from the coast
E 70 the Idaho timber belt through the
tlmbered region of Northern Wash
hston and Southern British Colum-
( shja. II Is for this reason that represen-
1 htives OF the department are now in
sthe field making Investigations to de-
termine II there is a natural barrier
and whether evidence of blister rust
{. h appearing in the northern tier of
counties stretching from the Cascade
range to Idaho. So far no blister rust
~ been found in this region, but in
vogdgations have not been carried far
cough as yet to determine whether
theFe Is natural barrier to its
spssad
". A. Rookie and V. H. Young, rep
roprosntatives of the office of blister
mt control, United States depart
nat Of agriculture, have been in this
l1Rritory since June 23 and will con-
tnue 70 work over the field from the
CaScades to the Idaho line north of
" Columbia river until mid Septem-
ber. Last week they were Joined by
II N Wyckoff of Seattle and j. s.
Doyce Of Portland, who is connected
VIII the office of forest pathology, U.
4 apartment Of agriculture, who re-
qalood in the field but a few days,
~. here to Check up ON the pro-
sHoss Of the work.
II an interview given here, Mr..
Boyce and Mr.. Wyckoff told of the ma
tsre OF white pine blister rust, itS Or
Ign, It's Introduction into this country,
10 progress, the damage is has done
and the efforts that have been made
and now are in progress to control its
further spread.
They explained that white pine blis-
eer rust Is fungus disease that re-
quires two kinds of plants in it's life
cycle, either wild or cultivated goose
berries or currants on the one hand
ano white pine on the other. The pine
On which needles grow in punches of
[lve commonly called the white pine,
Alone among trees are subject to at
ack BY the white pine blister rust.
Ihe hve-needle pines grow through
out me west and there are 60 or more
species OF yild currants and goose
perfaes that are possible carriers of
ne rust among these pines. However.
only few species of currants and
gooseberries may occur in given
locality. Mr.. Rookie and MIR. Young
Fepoft that they have found six varie-
Eies In this region.
Tne white pine blister rust origin
hseo IN Russia and has been known in
Europe for over half century. 1t
was carried by the importation of nur-
'ety stock from Russia to Germany
ana france and has spread through
put that continent. 1t was first found
= America in 1906. 1t is presumed
mat It was brought to this country on
nursery stock imported from Europe
. New York and New England states
Wnere 1t established a firm foothold.
from the Atlantic states it spread to
'ne white pine region of the Great
Lakes and there met the natural bar
llef OF the great plains west of the
Aississippi. In 1917 the federal gov
sfnment established quarantine on
ne Shipment of gooseberry and cur
'snt stock to the west, but the dis
eve apparently was carried to the
luset Sound and British Columbia
'eFrltor1es prior to the establishment
y the quarantine.
y has been found that the blister
rust Is carried considerable distances
rum white pine trees to gooseberry
Ano currant plants, authentic records
= y having jumped seven miles hav-
- oeen found and indications that
= mas Jumped as high as thirty miles
-.e Known. But the distance that the
.ust can be carried from berry plants
= ~nite pine trees is normally not
over 300 yards.
:. s this limitation on the distances
mat the disease may be communicated
"acn gives rise to the hope that a
..'urai :, barrier against spread OF the
from Western Washington to
.ae Idaho white pine region may be
'ouno In the territory east Of the Cas-
cade range.
while their Investigations have not
.s u carried far enough to permit OF
ssauive conclusions or assumptions,
e'sn' the department of agriculture
~olkers now in the field hope to find
= .t tne valleys of the Columbia and
) Okanogan, which latter extends
- INTO British Columbia, will prove
= pe the natural barrier against the
sp.saa eastward of white pine blister
'"''e tnat they are seeking.
90 iar they have found no five
saie pines below an altitude OF
wv 70 5000 feet in this region and