Dr. AUCHTER. Mr. Chairman, the Division of Forest Pathology has been working in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, and up to now 14,000 cases have been confirmed by the pathologists as the Dutch elm disease, and the trees have been removed. In addition, approximately 1,000,000 trees have been removed in the general clean-up and sanitation program. Mr. CANNON. In each case you remove the tree? Dr. AUCHTER. Yes, sir; they are removed. Mr. RICHEY. We do not have anything to do with the eradication, Mr. Chairman. That is in the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. We work in cooperation with them and confirm the symptoms. When they send in samples, we culture them and determine whether it is the Dutch elm disease or not. Mr. CANNON. In what sections is this disease most prevalent? Dr. AUCHTER. In a circular area with a diameter of probably 50 miles around New York City. That, you see, cuts into New Jersey and up into Connecticut. Mr. CANNON. It is spreading? Dr. AUCHTER. Not a great deal. It is spreading some, but you will recall that last year we said that this circle was about 50 miles in diameter. It has spread some, but not a great deal. There is also a development round Cleveland, Ohio, recently, more than we realized. Mr. THURSTON. Mr. Chairman, I have had a number of letters. from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts in regard to this tree disease. Dr. AUCHTER. As far as we know, the disease does not yet exist in Pennsylvania or Massachusetts. Mr. TARVER. These people from that section of the country who are writing to members of this committee seem to think that a much larger appropriation is necessary to carry on that work. What do you think about that? Dr. AUCHTER. I am not sure whether they are writing about our pathological work in confirming the disease or whether they are liscussing the eradication. Mr. TARVER. They do not undertake to discuss the secregation of he items, but they are talking about the entire amount available for he eradication of the Dutch elm disease. Mr. UMSTEAD. The appropriation of the Bureau of Entomology is nuch larger for this purpose than yours is, is it not? Dr. AUCHTER. Yes, sir; that is correct. Mr. UMSTEAD. I think they have been directing their remarks argely to that. Dr. AUCHTER. Yes, sir; I think so. Mr. UMSTEAD. After all, you have very little to do with it except n confirming what they think to be the disease? Dr. AUCHTER. That is the main thing we are doing now in addiion to research in connection with the disease. Mr. RICHEY. This Bureau conducts the research on the method of ransmission and various things of that kind, in cooperation with the radication folks. Mr. TARVER. The eradication is done by the destruction of the trees, is it not? Mr. RICHEY. Yes; and the recent findings in Cleveland, Ohio, show that there are other methods of transmission than by insects. for information by other groups of wood producers and consumers. The in proved control methods developed in this work have already come into larg scale use and are resulting in better lumber for the domestic consumer as we as aiding southern lumber to compete in the foreign market. Southwester farmers have been aided in securing durable fence posts. A service of uniqu type has been rendered to forestry in the determination for several forest region of the methods of logging slash disposal that favor most rapid decay and thu decrease of the fire hazard. (Forest Service, Bureau of Chemistry and Soil and Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine cooperating.) Diseases of shade trees, shrubs, and chestnut orchards.-Street, park, an ornamental trees make up a material part of the wealth of this country. I tangible values, such as reduction of temperature in summer and the enhanc ment of the beauty of a place, are difficult to estimate. Losses of trees from diseases, unfavorable climatic factors, and decay of the heartwood, with resul ing breakage, are taking place in every locality of the country. The primar object of the work under this project is the prevention and reduction of thes losses. Most of the diseases have never been investigated and others have bee only partially studied. Improved methods of tree repair and better woun dressings are being studied. However, a large part of the funds in this proje is required to determine the diseases and answer the correspondence sent in b the general public. The increased number of visitors in our National and State parks have create new problems, particularly with reference to the packing of soil around the mo valuable trees and diseased conditions resulting. Many invaluable sites hay already been severely injured. These problems and various others dealing wit park conditions are being studied in cooperation with the National Park Servic and some of the State parks. The incipient chestnut-orchard industry in the East was wiped out by ches nut blight. Blight-resistant strains of chestnut introduced by this Burea are being exensively tested as a basis for an orchard industry in the Easter States. Among many thousands of seedlings, those in which resistance to th blight and root disease are combined with desirable horticultural qualities an being selected. Extensive breeding work to secure valuable hybrids is unde way. As we normally import 20 to 25 million pounds of chestnuts from Europ this is one agricultural industry that can be developed without danger of ove production for many years. In the Western States, where the blight is no yet established, most of the planted chestnuts are blight susceptible, and effort are being made to eradicate the few infections already found in that regio and to put the industry on a basis of blight-resistant trees. Epidemic tree diseases.-This project covers the investigation of diseases forest and shade trees when they first appear in the United States. Knowledg of the casual agents and their behavior and the discovery of control methoc may at that time make possible the ridding of the country of these disease before they become established. Like the Red Cross, the work must meet th emergencies when they arise. The Dutch elm disease, discovered in a sma way 5 years ago in Ohio and more recently in Maryland, Virginia, and Indian is now very serious around New York City, in New Jersey, New York, an Connecticut, where thousands of affected trees have been found. It threater the life of the American elm. The investigations made under this project fu nish the foundation for the joint Federal and State eradication campaign no under way. The European larch canker infection found in Massachusett is important to the larch forests of the Northern and Western States. cause and control of a canker disease of pitch pines is being studied. is apparently serious on the slash pine of the Southeastern States, so importan in turpentine production and of promise for the paper industry. The Woodgat rust, which occurs in New York State, is of danger to the pitch pine of th South and the Pacific coast. An apparently threatening twig blight of th ponderosa pine in Arizona and New Mexico is being evaluated in its relation that important pine. Willow scab is rapidly spreading over New England an southwesterly through New York and Pennsylvania, and bears on the use e willows in erosion control. (Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantir cooperating.) DUTCH ELM DISEASE Mr. CANNON. There has been considerable agitation during th last year over control of the Dutch elm disease. What success hav you had in your study of that disease, Doctor? Dr. AUCHTER. Mr. Chairman, the Division of Forest Pathology has been working in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, and up to now 14,000 cases have been confirmed by the pathologists as the Dutch elm disease, and the trees have been removed. In addition, approximately 1,000,000 trees have been removed in the general clean-up and sanitation program. Mr. CANNON. In each case you remove the tree? Dr. AUCHTER. Yes, sir; they are removed. Mr. RICHEY. We do not have anything to do with the eradication, Mr. Chairman. That is in the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. We work in cooperation with them and confirm the symptoms. When they send in samples, we culture them and determine whether it is the Dutch elm disease or not. Mr. CANNON. In what sections is this disease most prevalent? Dr. AUCHTER. In a circular area with a diameter of probably 50 miles around New York City. That, you see, cuts into New Jersey and up into Connecticut. Mr. CANNON. It is spreading? Dr. AUCHTER. Not a great deal. It is spreading some, but you will recall that last year we said that this circle was about 50 miles in diameter. It has spread some, but not a great deal. There is also a development round Cleveland, Ohio, recently, more than we realzed. Mr. THURSTON. Mr. Chairman, I have had a number of letters from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts in regard to this tree disease. Dr. AUCHTER. As far as we know, the disease does not yet exist Pennsylvania or Massachusetts. Mr. TARVER. These people from that section of the country who are writing to members of this committee seem to think that a much arger appropriation is necessary to carry on that work. What do you think about that? Dr. AUCHTER. I am not sure whether they are writing about our athological work in confirming the disease or whether they are ussing the eradication. Mr. TARVER. They do not undertake to discuss the secregation of the items, but they are talking about the entire amount available for eradication of the Dutch elm disease. Mr. UMSTEAD. The appropriation of the Bureau of Entomology is ach larger for this purpose than yours is, is it not? Dr. AUCHTER. Yes, sir; that is correct. Mr. UMSTEAD. I think they have been directing their remarks gely to that. Dr. AUCHTER. Yes, sir; I think so. Mr. UMSTEAD. After all, you have very little to do with it except confirming what they think to be the disease? Dr. AUCHTER. That is the main thing we are doing now in addia to research in connection with the disease. Mr. RICHEY. This Bureau conducts the research on the method of smission and various things of that kind, in cooperation with the lication folks. Mr. TARVER. The eradication is done by the destruction of the trees, t not? Mr. RICHEY. Yes; and the recent findings in Cleveland, Ohio, show there are other methods of transmission than by insects. Mr. TARVER. Will the eradication of the trees have anything to d with the transmission? Mr. RICHEY. When they are all eradicated, of course, there will no be anything to transmit. I mean there will not be any source of in oculum. But in the meantime it is important to know how far t eradicate around the trees. For example, it was found that if th roots of two trees come together the disease could spread from one t the other. TRANSMISSION AND SPREAD OF DUTCH ELM DISEASE Dr. AUCHTER. That [exhibiting a specimen] is where two root crossed each other, and the disease has spread from one root to the other. Mr. THURSTON. The chestnut blight has practically exterminated the chestnut trees, has it not? Mr. RICHEY. It has practically eliminated the chestnut on the eas coast. Mr. CANNON. That is an entirely different disease? Mr. THURSTON. Where there is an infestation, does it take prac tically all the elm trees or just a portion of them? Mr. RICHEY. Wherever the infected tree is close enough so that the roots come in contact with the other trees it appears to spread. The scolytus beetle also spreads the disease, and there may be other means of spreading that we do not yet know. That is what this appropria tion is for. Mr. THURSTON. It does not take a whole grove? Mr. RICHEY. It may or may not. Of course, it spreads from one tree to another, and we cannot tell the length of time it is in a tree before we find it. Mr. THURSTON. Is it carried by contact, one with the other, and not by insects? Mr. RICHEY. Scolytus beetles are the most common carriers, and it appears to spread from root to root where they cross one another. Mr. CANNON. That has been determined, has it? Mr. RICHEY. Yes, sir. Mr. CANNON. It is spread by insects? Mr. RICHEY. Yes, sir; we know that it is spread by scolytus beetles Mr. THURSTON. Where you have an infested area, does it take most of the trees in that area? Mr. RICHEY. It depends on the length of time. It might spread first by one carrier, and then it would gradually spread as the insects carried it, and from there it would spread by other means. So the quicker we find it, the less the opportunity is for its spread. Mr. THURSTON. Is this disease progressive like the chestnut blight? Mr. RICHEY. Yes, sir; it is progressive. Eventually it would take all the trees. Mr. THURSTON. Does it affect any other trees? Mr. RICHEY. I do not believe they have any evidence that it destroys trees other than elms. The Japanese Keyaki tree is succeptible, but there are very few of these in this country. OTHER ELM DISEASES Mr. BUCKBEE. Doctor, complaints have been coming in from the Morton arboretum, Illinois; Dublin, N. H.; and around St. Louis, Mo., on the elm disease or diseases. What will be done during the current year for help along that line? Dr. AUCHTER. As far as we know, the Dutch elm disease has not been found in those areas. Another disease commonly called the Dayton disease affects trees in the Central West. Its wilting symptoms resemble the Dutch elm disease. Mr. BUCKBEE. I do not think there is a question but the complaints that have come in to our establishment are real complaints, and in the event that your department would like copies, our office would be very glad indeed to supply them. Dr. AUCHTER. That would be fine. Mr. BUCKBEE. What office would that come through-the Washington office or the Ohio office? Dr. AUCHTER. Either one. It would probably be best to send them direct to the Washington office. Mr. BUCKBEE. There is no question in the world about the protests from the Morton grounds in Illinois, is there? Dr. AUCHTER. That is just below Chicago? Mr. BUCKBEE. Yes. Dr. MCCALL. There is another elm disease that is causing some trouble, in addition to the Dutch elm disease. Dr. AUCHTER. Yes; there are several other troubles in addition to the Dutch elm disease, and that is why we are always interested in checking up in order to be sure about the disease. Mr. BUCKBEE. Would your division like to be enlightened through our requests from the various districts? Dr. AUCHTER. I think it would be very desirable. If anyone has any suspicion of Dutch elm disease in a new area, by all means, we would like to know about it; yes, sir. Mr. BUCKBEE. Should it come to the Federal division or the State divisions? Dr. AUCHTER. If it came right her to the Bureau of Plant Industry, then our people in charge of the Dutch elm work would immediately get in touch with the State officials, and the pathologists in the State would cooperate. FOREST PATHOLOGICAL WORK AT APPALACHIAN FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION, ASHEVILLE, N. C. Mr. UMSTEAD. With reference to the appropriation made for some years to the Bureau of Plant Industry for the employment of a pathologist at the Appalachian Forest experiment station at Asheville, N. C., can any of you gentlemen give me any information about Chat? Dr. AUCHTER. We do not have a pathologist in cooperation with he Forest Service at that place now. Mr. UMSTEAD. I understand from my information that you did have one there in 1926? Dr. AUCHTER. Yes. Mr. UMSTEAD. And for some years afterward, but that appropriation was cut out a year or two ago; and Dr. Jefferson Hyde Pratt, |