Blister Rust Damage to Merchantable Western White Pine

Damage to and the death of young western white pine through blister rust attack has been noted for some time in British Columbia and studies there have indicated that further damage will take place. Within the last few years similar damage has become apparent in various areas in Idaho. Information as to what may happen to western white pine of merchantable size, an extremely important consideration from the lumberman's standpoint, has not been previously available. This paper presents the results of two stndies of damage to merchantable western white pine, one in British Colnmbia and the other in Idaho, as an indication of what blister rnst may do in larger trees.