Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-10
Large Pine in
Maine the Prey
of Blister Rust


DIR. Perley Spaulding. of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture, who
studied blister rust conditions in Eu-
rope last year. has stated that there
is not the slightest doubt that the
largest and oldest trees can be killed
by the te-pine blister rust. The
oldest white pine trees that ! saw
in Europe were In Switzerland. These
were trees 11S years old with a d.
ameter of l IL to = IL feet. These
were killed or being killed by the
blister rust. l doubt If larger white
pine trees can be found in Europe.
owing to the immense amount OF
large timber cut during the war. 1t
is safe to say, however, that the Bills
ter rust in Europe has killed the
largest white pine trees that 1t has
had a chance to attack and there
is not the slightest reason to expect
that the much greater size OF our
western white pine and sugar pine
in. Idaho and California will protect
them from the ravages of this dis
ease"
The blister rust kills pines by
girdling the bark, and thus prevent
ing the flow of sap, which normally
sustains life and promotes growth
III lHC tICS. AllCI tuC UdEh 10 OHCc
penetrated the disease continues it's
growth until the tree dies. Small
trees and limbs on large trees are
killed within a few years, while a
longer period of time is required for
the rust to kill the big trees. Dur
ing the past several years, many I'M
protected woodlots in the North
eastern States. containing young
pines have suffered severe damage
and in some cases half of the trees
have been killed by the rust.
Recent reports show that the rust
has been attacking merchantable
timber, and infiicting serious dam
age to our largest pines. The writer
has seen recently the infection area
at Kittery Point, Me. One white
pine at this place was IA inches in
diameter. but short in it's crown by
10 feet because of the attack of the
rust. Other pines ranging from IL
to Is inches in diameter and up to
SO feet in height show infections on
branch and trunk, and are slowly
dying from the blister rust.
At Brunswick, Me-, a large white
pine "a inches in diameter and so
feet in height has 10 feet Of it's top
killed by the disease. In this same
lOcalty are pines up to 90 inches
in diameter and 100 feet high. These,
too. would probably have been at
tackled by this time, had: not the
owner been wise enough several
years ago to destroy the currants and
gooseberries which spread the rust
Large ornamental pines which are
infected by the blister rust may be
saved, If the disease has not pro-
crossed too far, by the removal of
diseased branches or areas, but this
| necessitates very careful work to find
all of the infections, and a regular
follow-up for a number of years,
to insure freedom from the disease
In the forest, however. the, removal
of diseased branches from large
trees Is seldom practicable, on ac-
count OF the cost. and here we must
| rely on prevention Of infection in
| order to keep the pines healthy.
This can be accomplished by the re-
moval of all currants and gooseber-
ries within 600 to 900 feet of the
trees. Where stands of merchantabl
pine have become infected, advice
concerning their treatment should be
secured from the county blister rust
agent, in care of the Farm Bureau,
or from the State forester.