The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-08-29
PINE BLISTER RUST HAS
SPREAD MUCH THIS YEAR
Said To Be Due To Cool and ClOu-
dy Weather During May

An unusually heavy infection of
white pine blister rust has been OBJ
served on gooseberry and currant
bushes throughout Garrett county, ac-
cording to Henry E. Yost, agent for
the U. S. Department of Agriculture
and the State Department of Forestry.
This condition is attributed to the eX-
ceptionally cool and cloudy weather
during the month of May. Last spring
the diseased white pine were at the
height of their spore production about
May l. These spores are spread by the
wind and in cool or cloudy weather will
remain alive for several days, thus
making possible heavy spread of the
disease over long distances.
1t was explained by Mr.. Yost that
this disease appears on the under
side of the leaves as an orange colored
rust. At this season of the year hair
like growths up to one-thirty-second
of an inch long appear and give the
rust a somewhat brown color. This
should not be confused with the dark
brown spots on the leaves caused by a
blight, insects or natural dying off.
1t appears only on the bottom of the
leaf but frequently the diseased parts
of the leaf show through as slightly
pale green spot on top. 1t is usually
in spots on the bottom of the leaf but
sometimes covers the entire under sur
face. European black entrants are
most susceptible and are very likely
to be found diseased. All kinds Of
wild or cultivated currant and goose
berry bushes found in Garrett county
are susceptible to the disease, but the
wild prickly gooseberry seems more
liable to be diseased than the other
wild or cultivated varieties except the
European black currant.
A very small spore, which is rela-
lively short lived except in cool
weather, is produced on the small
hair-like growths, mentioned above,
is carried by the wind and causes the
disease on the pines. From two to five
years are required for it to develop
on the pine to a point where much
killing can be easily observed. Seed
lings under two feet high may be killed
in from two to five years after they
become diseased, while mature trees
may live fifteen to twenty years or
longer.
The only practical way to control
this disease is by the destruction of
the currant and gooseberry bushes
within close proximity of the pine.
This work was begun in the New
England states about thirty years ago
and in Maryland in the fall of 1888.
Since that time about one and one
quarter million bushes were destroyed
on about $4,000 acres of land in Gar
rett, Allegany, Washington and Fred
erick counties. The ideal time of the
year to locate and destroy these bushes
is in the early spring, usually April
Is to May 80, when the leaves first
appear. Gooseberry and currant leaves
come out about two or three weeks
before other plants, thus making it
possible to do very efficient work. 1t is
necessary to rework the ground at
intervals of from three to ten years,
depending on the thoroughness of the
work and the rate Of growth of the
bushes.
A recent allotment of WPA funds
to the United States Department of
Agriculture will make possible the
initial work for the protection of all
or nearly all of Garrett county's white
pine that is justifable. Whether or
not pine is protected depends on the
amount of white pine present, the
amount of gooseberry and currant
bushes to be destroyed and the inten-
tons of the owner. The work is done
at no direct cost to the owner, but
neither the State nor the Federal
Government assumes any obligation
to continue or maintain it.
1t is requested that interested per-
sons examine the leaves of the bushes
and if blister rust is found or be-
lieved to be found, that they report
the same to John H. Carter, county
agent, or persons engaged in blister
rust work. Also any owner of white
pine trees where land has not already
been worked, contact the above men,
toned persons.