274 AN INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSES OF THE DEATH OF
During the spring and early summer of this year (1900) no
signs of the malady showed itself on Chislehurst Common,
Hayes Common or Keston Common, but by the end of August
diseased trees might easily be detected by a casual observer.
They may now be found in great numbers at Chislehurst, St.
Paul's Cray, Hayes, Keston, Lewisham, by the canal between
Weybridge and Woking, at Walton-on-Thames, and a few in
Kew Gardens. Since the end of July last I have failed to find a
perfectly healthy district.
From the appearance of trees in the Forest and elsewhere,
it is probable that the disease attacked a few trees last year, but
that most destruction has been wrought during the present
summer. To all outward appearance the course of the disease is
very rapid, for trees apparently healthy were found to be dead,
and the smaller branches brittle within a few months. The
suddenness of the change was a point mentioned at the meeting
of the Club referred to above, and this has been made evident by
my periodical visits to the infected areas.
As an example, it may be mentioned that on attempting to
photograph a nearly dead tree on 23rd July last, the green leaves
of a sapling close by were prominently brought before our
notice by their obtrusion in the picture. On returning to the
same spot at a later date, the 22nd of August, this young tree
was dead like its neighbour, having succumbed to the same
disease. This is an extreme case, but still the course is always
a rapid one.
The three photographs taken by my friend Mr. G. E. Shaw,
give the appearance of the trees at different stages of the disease.
No. 1 is a group of birches by the side of Monkham's Lane,
Lord's Bushes. The middle tree shows an absence of leaves on
the uppermost branches, while the catkins are still there. No. 2
is a tree by the roadside near the Old Toll-house, Buckhurst
Hill; there are no leaves or catkins on the upper branches, but
just a few on some lower ones, while the lowest branches of all
are in full leaf. No. 3 represents a tree on the roadside opposite
the entrance to Knighton House. Similar trees may be seen in
great numbers in all stages of decay, from those like No. 1, to
those completely dead.