Evening star., 1933-09-04

Experience with destruction of chest
nut trees in the United States gives
force to the warning from the Depart
ment of Agriculture that blight also
menaces the elm trees. The Dutch elm
disease, in which fungus is the deadly
agent, is in its initial stages. and the
newspapers take up the call of the
Government for the rescue of these
trees Europe is acquainted with the
blight and failure to destroy infected
sections Of tree is described as serious
neglect.
1T is possible" thinks the New York
Sun. that the disease is not yet SO
firmly established here as to resist a
general cooperative attack on 1t. The
elm is one of the noblest of trees and
no effort that will eliminate or stay
the Dutch elm disease is too costly or
too arduouS to be undertaken. :"
The Sun also gives the scientific de-
tails of the plague which threatens:
Progress of the disease varies with
trees. In some cases it may kill in a
season. In others the tree may sur
vive for several years, the fungus
spreading slowly According to Euro
pean investigators they have found
that trees become infected through
buds, twigs. limbs. trunks or roots. The
fungus grows principally on the sap
wood. In Europe spread of the disease
is now believed to be accomplished by
the elm-bark beetle, ScolytuS scolytus
Fabr. which carries the fungus on its
body, wounds the tree and introduces
the disease through the wound. This
beetle has not been found here, but
other insects may perform a similar
disService.
The fungus causing the disease is
closely related to organisms that pro-
duce blue stains in pine, gum and
other trees. At present it is sometimes
impossible to tell from examination in
the field whether a wilted elm is a
victim of the Dutch elm disease be-
cause other fungi and bacteria produce
similar types of diScoloration. Labora-
tory examination is necessary to reach
a decision. ="
Pointing out that 'east Of the Ohio
River a chestnut tree Is now hard to
find" the Dayton Daily News states
that 'the Dutch blight now threatens
a similar disaster to the elm" and OBJ
serves that Immediately the force OF
the Federal Government is directed
against the foe" The Daily News adds:
The resources of science are such that
given the necessary financial support
plaques such as, century ago, would
have put an end to the tree attacked
can now be isolated and ultimately
suppressed. +" The Asbury Park
Evening Press adds that the disease lis
killing trees over restricted area, but
unless brought under control at once
will sweep the country as the chestnut
blight did, leaving hardly healthy
tree in its wake" That paper echoes
the warning that when the chestnut
blight struck the United States, little
was done about it until too late to save
this valuable supply of food and tim
ber': that "the Federal and State gov
ernments will not repeat that over
sight"
Appraisal of the elm as zone of the
most highly regarded shade trees" Is
made by the Newark Evening News, and
that paper adds: THE Dutch elm dis
ease is spread by the elm beetle, which
even the frequent rains that have
marked the passing Summer have not
served to check. During season
marked by the appearance of various
forms of insect or parasitic pest ii
stands out as perhaps the most de-
structive. The elm as planted in
an earlier day became characteristic o1
the less hurried tempo OF the time
The streets might have been narrower
than modern civilization demands. but
they satisfied our fathers. A typica'
street a generation ago was a restfu
and dignified thoroughfare. Then came