Evening star., 1937-12-12
3Q,00OELMS HERE
SEEN IN DANGER
Immediate Action to Bar
Spread of Dread Disease
Held Necessary.
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.


Nearly 10000 stately American elm
trees in Washingtons parks and along
many of its streets are In need of
immediate action to safeguard them
against the ravages of cephalosporium,
an insidious wilt and back disease,
Supt. G. Marshall Finnan of the ONCE
OF National Capital Parks reported
Yesterday to the Secretary of the
Interior.
Although the report made it clear
that evidence is lacking to indicate
that the dreaded infection had reached
the epidemic stage in Washington, it
was brought out that 81 large trees
In West Potomac Park have been
injected. Removal of IS of the most
seriously infected trees has been
ordered by plant pathologists, Mr..
Flnnan said. Energetic measures are
being adopted to prevent the spread
OF the disease.
Mr.. Finnan estimated that about
SIX months would be required to COM
plete a proposed survey and that
the cooperation Of the Department of
Agriculture Dutch Elm Disease Lab
oratory at Bloomfield, N. j. would be
requested for the examination of
samples.
War On Disease Mapped.
Clifford Lanham, superintendent OF
trees IN the District, it was said, has
agreed to the need of precautionary
measures to safeguard the estimated
$4,000 elnls among Washington street
trees.
The disease which has wilted the
foliage and stripped many branches
OF their leaves is caused by the fungus
dothiorella ulm. 1t was first dis
covered in 1880 at Lincoln, Nebr. Like
The Dutch elm and the verticillium
diseases it is devastating All three
OF these tree diseases are closely
related
The cephalosporium infection in the
elms OF the National Capital Parks
was discovered recently as the result
of the action of the Branch of
Forestry, National Park Service, in
ordering that all new elms selected
Tor planting in the park system be
sampled and sent to the pathological
laboratory at Bloomfield, as a medium
OF preventing the introduction Of the
dreaded Dutch elm disease in this
area.
Tests Are Planned.
Testing of all the elm trees In
the park system to determine the
true spread of the disease and the
preparation of an estimate Of cost
OF controlling the infection will be
undertaken provided the Budget Bu-
reau makes funds available.
Samples sent to the laboratory dis
closed the presence of cephalosporium,
which is a disease serious enough 10
alarm park officials, but which is be-
lieved not to be SO rapid in its spread
or destruction as the Dutch elm dis
ease. The forestry experts have
pointed out, however, that an insidi-
Gus feature of the cephalosporium is
Its characteristic of remaining latent
In the trees without any significant
outward symptoms until too late for
corrective surgical treatment.
subsequent to the known existence
OF this disease in Washington, a
suspected specimens were sent to the
laboratory for pathogenic determine
lion last year. This scouting has
been continued this year and q total
OF l24 samples were submitted. Evi-
dences OF cephaloSporium have been
found In 81 of these samples, with q
result that Mr.. Finnan has ordered |
IS of the trees removed. In other |
cases severe pruning has been found |
necessary to save the trees.
The infection was said to be most |
serious in the vicinity of the Tidal |
Basin and polo fields in West Poto-
mac Park.
A majority of the trees infected |
were large specimens, with trunks Of |
20 to 80 inches in diameter. These
trees will average 80 to 40 feet in
height and have bough spread of |
the same dimension.
Report to Ickes.
Mr.. Finnan's report to Secretary
1ckes stated that 616l American elms
are IN the improved areas of the
National Capital Parks system. An
equal number was estimated In such
areas as Rock Greek Park, Fort Du-
pont Park. Glover Archbold Parkway
ana in many of the smaller reserya-
tions.
District officials have estimated
$4,000 elms are growing along Wash
1ngton streets, in addition to those
within the parks. That would bring
the total to around 10000.
No trees are more priced among
the park oficials here than the
American elms. They contribute to
the beauty Of such important locations
as the Ellipse, The Mall, Constitution
avenue. West Potomac Park, Lafayette.
Franklin, Lincoln, Garfield and STAN
ton Parks. Judiciary and Mount Ver-
non Squares, Washington and Dupont
Circles, Massachusetts, and New Hamp-
shire avenues and many other loca-
tions.
Since the elms under the CUSTODY
OF the District would assuredly be
affected by any steady spread Of the
disease, Mr. Finnan has suggested that
unitied survey be made.
Syndicalist Leader Dies