Evening star., 1934-07-08
FORESTERS FIGHT
WHITE PINE RUST.
Control Work Widened as
Disease Gains Ground
in Virginia.

The white pine blister rust, which
has gradually been spreading over the
Northeastern and Northwestern parts
of the United States, finally made its
appearance in Virginia, West Virginia
and Maryland about two years ago,
and these States Immediately were
placed in the official list Of infected
areas. The District of Columbia is
also placed in the infected list, al
though no rust has actually been
found.
Until recently the disease had not
gained a sufficient foothold in this
section to cause any damage, for as
soon as the blister rust was discov-
cred forestry and plant quarantine
officials began protecting nurseries
and making plans to safeguard plan
tations and native stands Of white
pine.
Considerable protective work has
been carried on by the National Park
Service in the Shenandoah National
Park. The work is being done by the
Civilian Conservation Corps, directed
by trained foresters. In addition,
eradication of the blister rust is one
Of the chief objectives of the Ma
tional Forest Service in the George
washington National Forest.
Gaining Ground. Z
Notwithstanding these protective
measures, the disease is rapidly gain
ing ground. Particularly is this true
of Virginia and, according to F. G.
Peterson, State forester. work has
|. been started on control OF the blister
rust on wide. systematic scale
throughout the State. 1t is being
conducted under the Department Of
Agriculture. f-.
The program of control for the
Summer and Fall covers the protec-
ton Of all pine areas in the northern
half Of the westerly counties in the
State. including both public and pri-
vate lands. Some of the laborers en-
ployed in Virginia on this work will
be obtained through the re-employ-
ment service under N. r. A. regula-
tionS.
Concerning this destructive disease,
s. B. Detwiler Of the Bureau of Plant
Industry has this to say:
The blister rust is a serious dis
ease of the pines, killing them in
much the same manner that the
chestnut blight destroyed the chest
| nut trees However, unlike the chest
nut blight, the blister rust is readily
controlled, and the interest which the
pine owners are taking in this work
| indicates that our Eastern white pine
forests will be adequately protected.
But an entirely different situation
exists with respect to the magnificent
white pine and sugar pine forests OF
the Far West. In these forests the
disease is now advancing with violent
destructive force and control efforts
are tagging far behind the need for
control. Consequently, 100000, 900
worth of white pine in Idaho, West
ern Montana and Eastern Washing
ton Is threatened with destruction by
the rust. About half Of this timber
is owned by the Federal Government
in national forests"
Valuable Trees.
The white pine is one of Americas
finest and most valuable trees. Three
species, the Eastern white pine. the
Western white pine and the sugar
pine are of the greatest commercial
Importance. The wood Of these species
has first choice for a great variety of
uses.
Before the World War there were
400 uses for wood, and the white pine
supplied most of these uses, but now
there are over 1000 and the virgin
forests of this country are no longer
adequate to meet the increasing de-
mands that are made upon them.
Therefore, forestry, or the growing
of trees as a crop, is necessity as
we'll as a commercially profitable in
dustry. And here is where the white
pine takes the lead, for it grows quite
rapidly and is exceptionally well
adapted to systematic forest practices.
Again these white pines have an
important recreational, scenic and or
namental value, which in many cases
far exceeds their timber value, but in
general their greatest value lies in
their capacity to produce highly
profitable timber crops under forest
management.
Caused By Fungus.
The blister rust Is caused by q para
site fungus which lives alternately in
the bark of the white pine, and in
the leaves of the currant and goose
berry plants. This disease, native
of the Old World, probably reached
America in 1898, but it was not dis
covered until some years later. 1t
was first found on native white pine
in the New England States in 1915.
The rust first develops on the bark
of the pine during the growing sea-
son. Early in the third or fourth year
after the pine has been attacked by
the fungus, orange-colored, beam
shaped bliSters break through the
swollen bark. ...
After pushing their way through
the bark of the pine, these blisters
soon break open, and in early Summer
millions Of spores or seeds, so small
and light in weight that they can
be carried many miles, fall on the
| leaves Of the currsut and Eooseherry