Augusta State's Arsenal Oak infection reappears

AUGUSTA - Infection in the ancient oak that serves as Augusta State University&#39;s symbol has reappeared, fracturing the hope tree experts had in trying to rid the tree&#39;s killer disease with an experimental treatment. <br> <br> ``It has spread,&#39;&#39; said Henry Frischknecht, the owner of Empire Tree and Turf in Augusta, referring to a 35-foot-long section of the oak that a few weeks ago showed evidence again of hypoxylon canker considered the cancer of trees. <br> <br> ``We have slowed it up, though, no doubt. With the weather conditions we had this year, if we had not done anything, it would have been dead within a month,&#39;&#39; Frischknecht told The Augusta Chronicle in its Saturday edition. <br> <br> Reputed to be 400 years old, the tree is named for the old Augusta Arsenal. It is the largest and oldest white oak in Augusta, according to the university&#39;s Web site, and also is the inspiration for Augusta State&#39;s logo. <br> <br> In June, six silver-dollar-size spots were found on the tree, which did not produce acorns this year. Frischknecht and his workers cut five 12-inch-wide chunks from the tree where cankers exist and injected a new fungicidal treatment into the oak&#39;s sap. <br> <br> Cutting the tree down ``would be our last resort. It would be a very sad day for Augusta State history,&#39;&#39; university spokesman Steve Brady said.