Control of Blister Rust Necessary in White Pine Forests

Control of white-pine blister rust, a disease which is a most dangerous forest enemy, is necessary if the white pine industry is to be perpetuated in the West, where the disease is already present. Simple and practical methods are available to any pine owner in the Eastern United States which enable him to safeguard his pine from the disease, says the United States Department of Argiculture, and vigorour action is required to develop and supply measures that u'ill minimize the damage in the West.

White pine blister rust has been khown in European forests for a number of years, and it rvas for the purpose of gathering information regarding European methods of dealing with the white-pine blister rust which would assist in the control work in America that a representative of the department was assigned to investigate the disease in European forests. As a result of his findings, a new bulletin has been issued as Department Bulletin 1186, WhitePine Blister Rust in Western Europe, which discusses the history of the disease, its distribution, measures of contfol which have been adopted, and the application of this information to the control campaign in this country.

The observations made abroad on the susceptibility of sugar pine, western white pine. and the limber pine show that these species are as readily attacked and as severely damaged b ythe white-pine blister rust as is the eastern white pine. These trees were introduced from America and thrived in Europe prior to the general spread of the blister rust, which is thought to have originated in Asia. Large timber is readily killed by this disease, and trees 90 feet tall, 26 inches in diameter were found dying from its attack.

The recent discovery of rvhite-pine blister rust in British Columbia and Washington and the widespread abundance of wild currants and gooseberries in the Pacific coast and Rocky Mountain regions (there being about 60 species) place the valuable western five-needle pine in an extremely hazardous position. Furthermore, climatic conditions of the West appear to be exceptionally favorable to the spread and development of the fungus.

The action demanded by present conditions in order to control the blister rust in the United States is summarized as follows:

(1) Energetic prosecution of practical control of the disease in the East by the general eradication of currants and gooseberries in pine-grorving. sections.

(2) Prompt and decisive action in developing local control in the West.

(3) Eradication of the cultivated black currant, the most susceptible alternate host of the blister rust and the most active agent in its spread and esablishment.

(4) Strict adherence to and prosecrrtion of the guarantine laws prohibiting the shipment ol five-needle pines and currants and gooseberry plants from infected territory. Also the cohtinued enforcement of the quarantine placing an absolute embargo on foreign nrlrsery stock, thus preventing the entrance of blister rust and other pests fiom foreign countries.

A copy of the bulletin may be secured, as long as the supply las_ts_, from the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

Acorn Brond Flooring is easy to identifg. The traile rnrh in on eaery bundle, guaratteeing *niforn ity itt grading, d,imensions anil millihg.

Hardwood Prices firm for 60 days-

Prices on all hardwoods are firm, and in our opinion will continue so for the next sixty to ninety days. We suggeet that you adviae your customers to place their orders now for work under construction, eo that they will be protected against the inevitable rige in hardwood flooring prices. What is true for your customers is of course true for you, also. By placing orders now at the presmt list, you will be assured of your regular margin of profit on your spring business. Then when the advance comes you will make an added profit on every foot, of flooring you have in stock.

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