GEOGRAPHIC WORK.

WEATHER CONDITIONS.

A brief statement of some additional work by the Geographer, Dr. F. P. Gulliver, follows:—

Since the last report very few definite facts have been obtained as to the relation of rainfall to the spread of the blight, but nothing has yet been learned which would contradict the opinion previously stated that blight dissemination increases much more rapidly during rainy periods.

RELATION OF SOILS TO BLIGHT OCCURRENCE.

Considerable time has been given recently to a study of the character of the soils in different localities in the State where there is more or less chestnut blight, to determine whether there is any real relation between the nature of the soil, and the amount of the disease in any locality.

LOCATION OF OBSERVATIONS.

After a careful survey of the State, it was decided to conduct this study in—(1), Chester Valley; (2), The Kutztown Valley, Berks County, and (3), Center County. To date, there has been time only to make observations in the first two localities. In the Chester Valley these studies have been much facilitated because of the constant occurrence of limestone toward the base of the mountains, and of shales toward the top. Usually, more chestnut blight was found near the tops of the mountains, and less, as one descends towards the valley.

RESULTS OF OBSERVATIONS.

The results of these observations on the relation of limestone or other alkaline soils to blight distribution, are as follows, which are simply, however, what appear to be the facts obtained from studies to date, and are not put forth as absolute conclusions.

(1)—In every series of tracts taken from limestone to overlying shale soils, the percentage of blight is least at a comparatively short distance (50 to 200 ft.), from the edge of the limestone.

(2)—Tracts on soils derived from limestone which show the highest percentage of blight seem to be those where the soil has become acid from underground drainage, and consequent leaching out of the alkalies.

(3)—Chestnut trees on soils derived from other alkaline rocks show less blight than is found in the trees on shale soils with limestone underneath.

(4)—Where the rocks have been faulted, and an older crystalline rock has been brought up to the level of the later formed limestone, there does not appear to be any less blight on the crystalline rock near the limestone.

RELATION OF ALTITUDE TO BLIGHT DISTRIBUTION.

On about 200 tracts examined, there does not seem to be any relation between the percentage of blight and the elevation above sea level.

UTILIZATION.

At the time of the last report, the work of “Utilization” was in charge of Professor J. P. Wentling. He continued to direct this work until March 1, 1913, when his leave of absence expired, and he resigned to resume his duties in the Forest School of the University of Minnesota. From that date, Mr. W. M. Kirby acted in charge of the office work, while Mr. J. R. Wilson was made directly responsible for the field operations. Until a suitable specialist could be obtained, the General Superintendent, Mr. S. B. Detwiler, has had general direction temporarily, of all the utilization work.

PRELIMINARY WORK.

For sometime, naturally, a great deal of information had to be obtained as to timber owners, purchasers of chestnut products, portable saw mills, demands for various kinds of products, etc., besides working out a general plan of active procedure. This had been largely done by Professor Wentling, before leaving, and he had already pointed out the importance of the portable mill operator, the necessity of experiments in deterioration of blighted chestnut, and of making tests of certain chestnut products through reputable manufacturers, and also the desirability of a trial of intensive local utilization in a few localities, and showed that it was desirable to keep in close touch with the important lumber associations.

CONCLUSIONS OF UTILIZATION CONFERENCE AT TRENTON.

At a Utilization Conference between various State and National officials held at Trenton, New Jersey, certain conclusions were arrived at as to special lines of work in utilization. Among these, it was recommended that the individual States take up local market studies.

LOCAL INTENSIVE UTILIZATION.

In accordance with the conclusions of the Utilization Conference above mentioned, and in line with the suggestion of the Forester of this Commission previously in charge of Utilization, it was decided to try such local work at one or two points in this State, the work being under direction of the General Superintendent. The first place selected was in the vicinity of West Chester, Chester county. The local market for various chestnut products was thoroughly exploited to determine what amount could be taken care of in local consumption, and afterwards it was determined so far as possible, how much of the surplus could be disposed of at more distant markets. The results of the work have been very interesting, and bid fair to solve largely the entire problem of utilization.

RESULTS OF THE LOCAL WORK.

In the short time that has been given to this work, up to the date of closing, remarkable progress has been made, as the following statement shows:—

(1)—Careful estimates of timber were made of 14 tracts, in the vicinity, ranging in size from 2 to 26 acres each.

(2)—Various satisfactory interviews were obtained with the timber owners, and in this connection, it was found that there has been much change in the sentiment of owners, favorable to a rapid disposal of blighted chestnut.

(3)—All local timber operators were interviewed.

(4)—It was found that the owners themselves could use a large amount of their own timber for fencing.

(5)—Lists of buyers of chestnut products were obtained at West Chester, Downingtown and vicinity, and along the Pennsylvania Railroad main line.

(6)—After getting the confidence of timber owners, they were quite willing to place the disposal of their chestnut wholly in the hands of Commission employees.

(7)—One thousand ties were sold to a street railway company, and orders were expected for 5,000 more.

(8)—Arrangements were made for installing a saw mill in the area.

(9)—At the time of closing the work, efforts were being made to obtain 20,000 poles for a firm in New Jersey.

DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING LABOR.

In the particular local work above referred to, the difficulty of obtaining labor was encountered, as in all other cases of work of this kind. Here again, however, the Commission employees were able to aid timber owners and operators greatly by obtaining hands from a distance, until finally eight different timber owners were on the waiting list to use wood-cutters who had been imported through our efforts.

WORK IN OTHER LOCALITIES.

No doubt results similar to those mentioned above could be obtained in the same way in other localities. Such work was successful in Lebanon County, to the extent of being able to locate ten different portable saw mills in active work in that county inside of one month.

DETERIORATION EXPERIMENTS.

An experiment, probably the first of its kind, has been installed by this Commission in co-operation with the United States Forest Service, at Mt. Gretna, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, to determine accurately the effect of the chestnut blight on the quality of chestnut wood products, and upon the durability of such products. Chestnut telephone poles, some diseased and some from healthy wood, have been set. Thirty standard railroad ties, partly diseased, and partly not, were placed in a siding of the Cornwall & Lebanon Railroad. A fence was made with mortised posts and rails, some of them from diseased trees, and others from healthy trees. To determine the direct effect of blight lesions in telephone poles, cross arms were placed through these lesions; also some fence posts were set with lesions at the ground line. The complete results of this experiment will not be possible for several years, but it was expected to take records at regular intervals each year.

CHESTNUT EXTRACT CHIPS FOR PAPER PULP.

Spent extract chips from blighted chestnut wood which had been run through the leaches of a tannin extract company, were sent to the U. S. Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wisconsin, where experiments are being carried on to determine whether or not these chips can be used in the manufacture of paper pulp.

TESTS IN CO-OPERATION WITH MANUFACTURERS.

In connection with the above mentioned experiment, an attempt has been made to make similar tests in a practical way through co-operation with manufacturers. A small shipment of chestnut chips was made to a company in New York State, to test its value for the manufacture of plaster board. A similar shipment was made to a company in Ohio which manufacturers special machinery for reducing wood, the idea being to test these chips for the production of paper pulp.

BLIGHTED WOOD NOT INJURED.

Careful studies to date have shown decidedly that blighted chestnut is injured very slightly, if at all, for use as lumber. The blight lesions extend to only a fraction of an inch below the bark, and even this portion is taken off in the slabs. To illustrate this fact, small hand samples of blighted chestnut in board shape, have been prepared and distributed to different chestnut users throughout the State.

KINDLING AND FUEL TESTS.

There has always been considerable prejudice against the use of chestnut for fuel, and investigations have shown that most likely this prejudice is to a large extent unwarranted. It was intended therefore, at the time of closing our work, to make practical tests of chestnut for kindling, in comparison with the common kindling woods now in the market.

MOVEMENT OF CORDWOOD.

The movement of cordwood under the special reduced tariff has made an excellent beginning. Several hundred cords have already been shipped, and a number of parties were preparing to ship large amounts when our inspection work ceased. The discontinuance of this inspection work will be a financial disadvantage to many timber owners, who were expecting to take advantage of the special tariff, unless some arrangement can be made to continue such inspection under other auspices.

CO-OPERATION WITH THE U. S. FOREST SERVICE.

A list of pole and tie dealers has been furnished by the U. S. Forest Service. This list is being combined with a corresponding list of wood-cutters prepared by this Commission, the whole to be made out in duplicate, which will be of great use for future workers in utilization in this State.