Mr. Hammond:-And not only that, but another question and these questions keep coming up here all the time and that is you can have a more efficient plant than what you have got in some plants at Niagara Falls and utilize your water and get more power out of the water.

Senator Ferris:

Mr. Hammond:

Senator Burd: power?

Mr. Hammond:

There is no doubt about that.

That is still another proposition.

It is possible to double the development of

I would not say it would double it. I understand it would be about twenty

Commissioner Moore: One of them could be doubled and the other increased about twenty per cent.

Mr. Freeman: I would like to ask the judge wherein he figures any basis for his contention that an allowance is to be made for taxes in the computation of the charge that is to be made for this electric current?

Mr. Hammond: You mean as to what I said was done in Canada?

Mr. Freeman: No, here?

THE QUESTION AS TO TAXATION.

Commissioner Van Kennen: The State taxes its property over here.

Mr. Hammond: - I am not sure of that, but what I said, these taxes and everything else that is a proper charge is figured in and goes into the cost of that power.

Senator Ferris: You do not mean to say that it would not be a proper thing for the State to tax its own property used for its own works?

Commissioner Van Kennen: - It taxes its own lands in the Adirondacks.

Mr. Hammond;

property.

--

I know the city of Buffalo taxes its own

Senator Burd:-I would suggest in connection with that, that this Legislature passed a bill which taxes State property out in the western part of the State.

Mr. Hammond: -I say whatever is included, if taxes are a proper charge it will be included.

Senator Ferris: What you mean to say is that it would be included if the bill was amended?

Mr. Freeman: I simply raised the point, Mr. Chairman, because the statement I made as to taxes was disputed. I just wanted to bring out the fact that it was not a misstatement; and, with the permission of the Chairman and with the permission of the gentleman, I would like to ask one other question.

Mr. Hammond: I did not mean to dispute your statement as to the taxes; that was the farthest thing from my intentions.

Mr. Freeman:-There has been some question raised as to accuracy, a dispute as to the accuracy of facts, facts which have been submitted in one or two cases; I ask the gentleman, man to man, who is right on the questions wherein there are disputes, questions on which evidence has been submitted?

Commissioner Van Kennen: - On what point: Do you mean the rate at Toronto?

Mr. Freeman : Any matters of dispute wherein the facts have been presented?

I understand what he means.

Mr. Hammond: I have made the statements that it costs a certain price over in Hamilton and Toronto, and I am perfectly willing to stand on whatever the facts show. I assure you, gentlemen, I meant to make no statement based on other than the facts. But, I very often find in the trial of lawsuits that many honest people see things differently.

STATE OF NEW YORK

Department of Agriculture

RAYMOND A. PEARSON, COMMISSIONER

Kaiserliche Biologische Anstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft. Flugblatt No. 5.- Zweite Auflage.— Juni 1905.

TRANSLATION BY A. J. T. VAN LAER

of the New York State Library.*

IMPERIAL BIOLOGICAL INSTITUTE FOR AGRICUL TURE AND FORESTRY CIRCULAR No. 5-SECOND EDITION JUNE, 1905.

BIOLOGY, PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE AND CONTROL OF THE WHITE PINE BLISTER.

BY PROF. DR. CARL FREIHERR VON TUBEUF, IN MUNICH. Formerly Government Advisor and Director of the Biological Division of the Imperial Department of Health at Berlin.

The white pine (Pinus Strobus), a valuable forest tree of eastern North America, has graced our gardens and parks for about 200 years. It has been cultivated for over a century in the German forests and has become thoroughly adapted to its surroundings. In some forest districts there are sections of full grown white pines which reproduce themselves naturally. It is to be regretted therefore that this species of trees, which seems indispensable to our parks on account of its beauty and which

*This being a translation of a German bulletin on the white pine blister or white pine blister rust, in order that the appearance of the fungus may be shown, we are inclosing with this translation a copy of the original bulletin with colored plates, which are referred to in the English text.

* * *

has been planted on a large scale by reason of its valuable qualities for building purposes, is very seriously injured by certain plant pests. Among these parasites may be mentioned especially the honey-colored mushroom-Agaricus melleus — ( and the so-called root fungus (Polyporous annosus). Both fungi are also found in the native country of the white pine and are very prevalent in German forests.

However, the most recent and, it seems, also the most dangerous enemy of the white pine is the rust fungus known by the name of pine blister (Peridermium Strobi), which in Germany has been noticed only since thirty or forty years. It is to be feared that this fungus will spread more and more in our country and cause an ever-increasing amount of damage. Even after it has only just made its appearance in the forest, it is hard to exterminate it.

It is therefore our purpose to contribute to the widest possible distribution of knowledge concerning this plant pest and to bring about that combative measures may be taken, not by single individuals, but quite generally.

Through united and energetic action it is possible to control the further spread and transportation of these dangerous parasites and to free from them many localities which have already been infected thereby.

APPEARANCE AND BIOLOGY OF THE FUNGUS.

It

The white pine blister-rust is particudarly noticeable in the spring, from the middle of April to the middle of May.** then covers the trunk of young plants of four or five years and over, as well as the trunk and branches of older trees, with bright yellow blisters (Aecidia, Plate 1). From these blisters or bags blows a dark yellow powder, consisting of the reproductive cells, or so-called spores, of the fungus, which are carried great distances by the wind. These spores can not develop unless they fall on the leaves of current or gooseberry bushes, in other words. on plants belonging to the genus Ribes. On these leaves they germinate however, especially on Ribes nigrum, aureum, and sanguineum, but also on other species. The germ tubes enter the

** Prof. Stewart thinks that it is very doubtful if the disease appears as early in April in this country and would expect to find it the last two weeks of May.