The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-05
A REPORT ON FORESTRY.
An Interesting Treatise issued by
the Agricultural Department.

the Agricultural Department.
Many facts OF Importance and interest
are contained in a report on forestry is
sued by the Department OF Agriculture.
The report shows what has been done dur
ing the year in tree planting. and describes
the system adopted under the plan Of re-
organization recently adopted by the de-
partment The report saws:
During the year the work OF the di-
vision has been recognized throughout.
me changes entailed. together with the
introduction in the United States OF prae
teal and paying forestry among lumber
men. on large scale. the progress of ex-
tensive Investigations in tree planting. as
preparation for practical work with tree
planters, and the very marked manifesto
lion OF public cooperation and interest in
the work of the division. especially among
lumbermen. are the salient facts OF the
year. The extent OF this cooperation is
wen indicated by the action of the red
woou iumbermen OF San Francisco who
nave voted to subscribe 81 900 Of which
S9So Is already in hand. and haze offered
Tree transportation over their roads and
free subsistence in their camps TO the
agents OF the division, for the sake Of adj
vaneing BY a year the time when the d.
vision, otherwise hindered by lack OF
funds, could begin work on the growth
and reproduction of the redwood.
IN spite OF the increase In its resources
made by the last Congress the division
nnds itself wholly unable to cover the
neid OF necessary work which lies before
IT, Public demands upon il for work OF
In NJ to h.. Al.
and right use OF forests in the United
states remain unanswered for lack OF
means. II Is earnestly hoped that the
DIVISION may be enabled adequately to
take and use during the next fiscal year
the unprecedented opportunities created
by the rapid awakening OF the public mind
TO the meaning and value of practical for
estry.
In accordance with the recommenda-
ton made n the last annual report. the
planting OF experimental plIts In CO.
operation with State agricultural expert
ment stations has been entirely discon-
tinued. and arrangements have been made
whereby the stations have taken over
the plantations. together with the respon-
sibility for them. This step was taken
after thorough study OF the old plan.
after careful examination on the ground OF
the plantations at nine OF the eleven sta
lions. and with the acquiescence OF the
authorities OF every station After CON
siderable difficulty this matter has been
entirely disposed Of. with the exception Of
delayed settlements with two OF the nur-
serymen who were under contract to raise
seedlings for the use of the cooperative
experiments. IL has been replaced BY two
lines OF activity: One. a careful study
of the results OF planting already done, in
which all the species used Ia the CO.
operative plantations are represented and
from which practically all the results to
be expected from them after many years
may be obtained without delay and far
more cheaply: and the other, the giving
Of practical advice and assistance to tree
planters under the terms OF an offer simi-
lar to that made TO forest owners in Cir
cular Il. The work involved in disposing
Of the cooperative experiments has delay
I'd the publication of this offer fin Circular
No. %. recently issued) until the present
fiscal year. but the preliminary work was
accomplished before the year began
Close relations have been established,
through correspondence and by personal
contact. between the division and five OF
he most competent men in the treeless
regions. and these gentlemen are now pre-
pairing. from the results OF their past ex-
)erience supplemented where necessary by
urther investigations. reports on subjects
1f direct interest TO the tree planter. IL
IS believed that these reports will be OF
capital Importance to this branch OF the
work.
1.-THE expenditure of this section for the
rear was s4ffi.sS or f4.5 per cent Of the
otal appropriation. A very considerable
,art of this sum was expended under con-
racts connected with the cooperative plan
low laid aside.
"From July 1 to August 81. 1899. tho
studies and the preparatory work of the
ection have been continued, and the Of
err above referred to has been made known
through the publication Of Circular %.
"In response to the circular there were re-
eived during the year applications from
2s owners, In thirty-five States. for as
distance in the management OF 1.51s.5 92
.cres. OF these applications forty-eight
we're for large tracts. covering together
500 2t5 acres. and the remainder were for
arm wood lots. Personal attention on
he ground was given to forty tracts.
covering about 400 900 acres in nineteen
States On the majority of these tracts is
vas found possible for the owners to carry
tut the working plans without personal as
but on fifteen Of them the par
icipation OF the division is required for
he execution of the plans. On two of the
he working plans we're put in execution
arly in the year. and at the present writ
ng the first years work has been sue
essfully completed and the second years
work is we'll advanced under very favor
bile conditions calculation based on
xact measurement of the amount of lum-
er wasted by the prevailing practice OF
utting high spruce stumpS in the Adir0n
acks led to q decided change for the bet
err on the tracts just mentioned. and at
he same time a marked reduction in the
mount OF young spruce cut for road build
ng was brought about These are infiuen-
ial changes. A detailed account OF the
FORK en- these two tracts. entitled 'Prac-
icaI Forestry in the Adirondacks.' by
Ienry s. Graves Superintendent OF Work
lg Plans is now ia press
1.-The total expense during the year I'M
or the ledger head. working plans. was
1895. or l4.5 per cent of the total ap-
ropriation. The expenditures of private
xners. under the terms of Circular q.
mounted to per cent of the same. or
; ee29. 81
THE work between July 1 and August
/. of the present year. consisted in the
-eparation OF working plans upon two
rye tracts in the Adirondaeks. compris-
X an area of about 100. coo acres. In max
4 preliminary examinations Of seven ad-
tional tracts and in the continuation OF
70 work already in hand. In connection
it'll the first a special study was made
the growth and production of spruce on
e eastern side of the Adirondacks and
birch and maple on the western slope.
iditional application has been made for
,out 100000 acres.
on Duty