Agricultural Law, under which this Department has been working for
several years for the control of such insects as are distributable by
nursery stock, and for the preventing of the establishment in the state
of dangerously injurious insect pests and fungous diseases. If the
Department were to attempt to control the hickory bark borer, it would
require a character of work quite different from anything that we have
undertaken for the reason that this insect would not likely be
distributed in nursery stock. It is an insect that is not only a native
of the country but is quite widely distributed over the state and is one
that is given to irregular periodic outbreaks. Of late its depredations
have shown seriously in the vicinity of New York along the Hudson Valley
and at numerous places in the state. The pest is not amenable to such
treatment as can be used against many other deleterious insects. I am
informed that the only way now known to control the insect is to first
locate it and then destroy all trees or parts of trees in which the
grubs are found before the middle of June. It appears to me that to
attempt the suppression of the hickory bark borer, it would require a
very large force of men and, of course, considerable money.
Relative to the chestnut bark disease, we had a conference at this
office in the month of October last and the question was discussed by
botanists and foresters from adjoining states and the whole matter was
thoroughly thrashed out by those who were present, including
representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture,
Washington. Invitations have been received from the Governor of
Pennsylvania to a conference to be held at Harrisburg on February 20th
and 21st and I have directed a representative of this Department to be
present.
Mr. C. H. Pettis, Superintendent of Forests of the State Conservation
Commission, joined in our conference here and I learn that someone will
be sent from that Commission to Harrisburg.
We have in the hickory bark borer and the chestnut bark disease, two
very serious propositions, the importance of which I fully appreciate.
It is not clear to me what methods should or can be adopted which will
be productive of the greatest good.
Any suggestions that your Association make will be highly appreciated.
As soon as I learn of the result of the conclusions at the Harrisburg
meeting, I shall be pleased to take the subject up again.
Very truly yours,
CALVIN J. HUSON,
Commissioner.
LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY TO COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.
March 16th, 1912.
Hon. Calvin J. Huson,
Commissioner of Agriculture,
Albany, New York.
Dear Sir:--
Your letter of February 7th in reply to mine of an earlier date in
relation to the hickory bark beetle has been too long unanswered owing
to a rush of professional and other work. I regret this delay as I would
like to do all that I can to expedite the work which should be done as
soon as possible to prevent further damage from this insect.
If I am not mistaken Chapter 798 of the laws of 1911 is a new law under
which the Department has not previously worked and which states
specifically that "no person shall knowingly or willfully keep any
plants or vines affected or infected with--or other insect pest or
fungous disease dangerously injurious to or destructive of the trees,
shrubs or other plants; every such tree, shrub, plant or vine shall be a
public nuisance, etc." It also states that if the Commissioner of
Agriculture is notified of the presence of any such pests he shall take
such action as the law provides, and the law provides for the
destruction or treatment of diseased trees.
This law appears to be not confined in its application to nursery stock,
and in this view I am supported by such men as Dr. E. P. Felt, State
Entomologist, and Forester Merkel of the New York Zoological Park. It
appears that the Commissioner of Agriculture not only has the right but
it is his duty to take action under this law when his attention is
called to a matter such as the one in question.
The methods of procedure under this law seem to be sufficiently clear.
Wherever infected trees are known to exist the Commissioner is directed
to order the owners thereof to destroy them. Failure to obey these
orders constitutes a misdemeanor and the Commissioner may have his
orders carried out by his own agents.
I am glad that you fully appreciate the serious nature of this pest
which threatens great destruction of one of our most valuable timber and
nut trees and I hope that no obstacle will be allowed to stand in the
way of the enforcement of the full intent of the law.
This Association will aid such work in any way in its power.
I would like to call to your attention a report in the Yearbook of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture for 1903, page 317, of the successful
treatment of an outbreak of this pest at Detroit, Michigan. Also to an
address to be published in the transactions of this Association, a copy
of which I will send you, by Prof. Herrick in which he recounts the
successful treatment of another outbreak.
April 3, 1912.
W. C. Deming, M. D.,
Sec., Northern Nut Growers' Association,
Westchester, New York City.
Dear Sir:--
I am in receipt of your communication of the 16th of March, and have
considered carefully the question of what can be done towards the
control of the hickory bark beetle. As this is a species which at
irregular intervals becomes abundant and capable of doing considerable
local damage, yet I am inclined to think that so far as the Department
of Agriculture can exercise any control, the hickory bark beetle should
be classed among such pests as in a way have like habits of injury, such
for instance as the apple tent caterpillar, forest tent caterpillar,
green maple worm, fruit tree bark beetle, pine bark beetle, and other
thoroughly established native and introduced species, all of which exert
injuries at irregular intervals and then disappear. The hickory bark
beetle suggests one of the problems which is difficult to handle, and it
does not seem that much can be accomplished in a practical way by
starting an agitation on the subject. The entomologist of the New York
Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, says that the insect is common
around Geneva, and nearly every season an occasional tree succumbs to
its work. He further says that he believes that hickory trees have some
time in the past suffered from either a severe winter or drought, and
that the shot-hole borer is attacking the weakened trees.
Owing to wide distribution, I do not see how I can direct a campaign
against this particular insect at this time for the lack of funds. The
appropriations at my disposal under Sections 304-305 of the Agricultural
Law, are scarcely adequate for the large amount of work which has
already been started, and which, owing to its nature, must be kept up
and finished each season.
It is my opinion that general publicity would result in accomplishing
much, if individual owners were informed how necessary it is to seek out
and destroy the dead trees before the 1st of June, in order to prevent
the insects attacking healthy trees adjoining. The habits of these
insects are thoroughly known and their life histories have been worked
out by our entomologists, and very definite information can be given for
the control of the hickory bark borer.
Very truly yours,
CALVIN J. HUSON,
Commissioner.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE CONFERENCE CALLED BY THE GOVERNOR OF
PENNSYLVANIA AT HARRISBURG FEB. 20 AND 21 FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO CONTROL THE CHESTNUT-TREE BARK DISEASE:
WHEREAS this Conference recognizes the great importance of the chestnut
tree as one of our most valuable timber assets, having an estimated
value of not less than $400,000,000, and
WHEREAS a most virulent fungous disease has made its appearance in wide
sections of the chestnut timber region, and already many millions of
dollars of damage has been sustained, and the total extinction of the
chestnut tree is threatened by the rapid spread of this disease, and
WHEREAS we recognize the importance of prompt action.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the thanks of this Conference are tendered to Governor Tener for
calling it, and for the courtesies he has shown
That we appreciate the interest of the President of the United States as
evidenced by his communication to Governor Tener, showing as it does,
that the head of the National Government is not unmindful of the great
danger presented by the Chestnut Blight problem.
That the Commission appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania be
commended for the earnestness and diligence they have shown in the
conduct of their work.
That we urge the National Government, the States and the Dominion of
Canada to follow the example of Pennsylvania, which is analogous to that
of Massachusetts in starting the fight against the gypsey moth, and
appropriate an amount sufficient to enable their proper authorities to
cope with the disease where practicable.
That we favor the bill now before Congress appropriating $80,000 for the
use of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Chestnut Bark Disease
work, and urge all States to use every means possible to aid in having
this bill become a law at the earliest moment.
That we believe trained and experienced men should be employed in field
and laboratory to study the diseases in all its phases.
That we believe definite boundaries should be established where
advisable in each State beyond which limits an endeavor should be made
to stamp out the disease.
That we believe an efficient and strong quarantine should be maintained
and that it should be the earnest effort of every state, the Federal
Government and the Dominion of Canada to prevent the spread of the
disease within and beyond their borders. In accord with this thought we
strongly commend the efforts being made to pass the Simmons bill now
before Congress.
That we believe strong efforts should be made in all States to stimulate
the utilization of chestnut products, and in order to do so, we
recommend that the Interstate Commerce Commission permit railroads and
other transportation companies to name low freight rates so that
chestnut products not liable to spread the disease may be properly
distributed.
That we recommend the National Government, each State and the Dominion
of Canada to publish practical, concise and well illustrated bulletins
for educating owners of chestnut trees.
That we believe further meetings on the line of this Conference
advisable and we hope the Pennsylvania Commission will arrange for
similar meetings.
That we thank the State of Pennsylvania for its intention to publish
immediately the proceedings of this Conference.
That copies of these resolutions be forwarded to the President of the
United States, to the Governor of every State, to the Governor General
of the Dominion of Canada, and the members of the Federal and State
legislatures, with the request that they do all in their power to aid in
checking the ravages of this dread disease.
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