Field work in the Eastern District has been conducted mainly on the
plan outlined in the previous report. Inspections were made on the
request of timber owners and advice given as to the best method of
procedure in each case. Particular attention was given to assisting
owners of blighted chestnut in finding the best markets for the
products. On the request of owners desiring to take advantage of the
reduced freight rates on blighted chestnut cordwood, inspections were
made and necessary certificates issued. Supervision of enforced cutting
of all blighted chestnut trees within a half mile of chestnut orchards
in which the owners are endeavoring to keep the disease under control,
was continued.
As the evidences of the blight become more noticeable and the
seriousness of the situation forces attention, owners of chestnut
timber in eastern Pennsylvania have shown an increasing interest in the
work of controlling the blight, and more requests for assistance were
received than could be given individual attention. For the guidance
of owners who wished to clean their woods of blight, either by doing
the work themselves or having it done by contract, the following
suggestions were made by the Office of Utilization. These suggestions
are for use in eastern Pennsylvania only, where the blight is general.
[Illustration: Cutting out a spot infection among large trees.]