Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-11-22
PROBLEMS IN FORESTRY.
Being Worked Out by Governmsn III
Field Parties.

of forest extension, which was or.
guuiZed in the bureau of forestry in
July to supersede the section OF Tree
planting. will have charge OF all work
which deals with the creation Of for
eSts where at present there are mono.
Several important lines of forest work
which have only recently been taken up
by the bureau have been placed under
this division. The field work OF the
division IL now being carried on with II
force of 81 men. Field parties are
working in New Hampshire, Massa-
chusetts, New Jersey, Nebraska. Okla-
homa, Arizona, Washington and Ore
g0n, In addition, planting plans are be
ing prepared by representatives Of the
bureau. working individually in Il num-
ber Of other states.
The SYSTEM of cooperation with pri-
vate land owners in forest planting,
begun by the bureau OF forestry three
years ago, has done much to encOliraga
tree planting and to bring about the
introduction of safe and reliable
methods.
In cooperation with the Fort Wortl.
and Denver City railway the bureau Is
now making an examination of land in
northern Texas for the purpose of draw
ing up simple directions for the de-
rsopment Of woodlots on the farms in
that region. After the examination has
been completed planting plans will be
prepared for those who desire them. and
later printed instructions in regard to
the development Of forest plantations
will be issued.
The Metropolitan water board of
Massachusetts began planting this year
according to plans prepared by the
bureau of forestry on the watershed of
their large reservoir situated near Clin-
ID ton. This reservoir when completed
Will furnish the water supply for BoS-
ton and Il number of nearby cities and
towns. The planting has been COM
pleted on i5acreS, and large quantity
of nursery stock is now on hand for
the continuation of planting later on.
planting plan is in course Of prep
arltion for the water department of the
city of WoonsOcket. X. l., for the pro-
lection of certain portions Gf the water
shed of their large storage reservoir
six miles south of WOonsOcket.
North Dakota has made application
through Governor White for planting
plans for woOdlotS on the grounds of Il
number of state institutions.
The secretary OF the interior has
granted to the department of agritul-
tureturr the privilege of eSta blishing
nurseries ana planting on The two
forest reserves recently established by
President Roosevelt in the sandhill re.
gion OF Nebraska.
A line of work recently taken up ~
the bureau of forestry and for the first
time receiving adequate attention in thr
United States is the study of the ten
dency of na tural forests to extend over
the land devoid of forest growth. This
tendency has, been noticed in many
parts of the country, but has never been
studied with a view Of controlling it
for practical use or assisting It where
desirable. -
A field party from the bureau Is now
investigating the reproduction of White
pine on pastures and abandoned lands
in Massachusetts and New lIHmp-
shire to learn the conditions under
which reproductions takes place. The
bureau is making this Investigation in
order to be able to give owners Of such
lands directions as to the best methods
of handling them, with, j. view offs cur
ing stand of pine BY natural seeding
A field party Of six men is studying
the same problem 1n'Oklahoma in con-
nectiOn with the hardwood growth,
which cQmposes the timber belts Of that
region. 1t has been found in certain
places in the middle west that natural
forest belts haye extended up streams
as much as two miles in the last %
years. '"".-''
A similar study is being made on the
Prescott forest, reserve, in Altoona,
where the stand of timber consists al
most entirely of western yellow pine.
For several years only a scant reproduc-
ti9p has taken PLACE on this rsserNe. and
one of the objects Of the presentinyestl-
.gation:is to devise means of incre 1sing
the standOf young timber. -: -
The protection Of valuable property;
from the encroachmentpf Of shlftin2san nd
dunes is Incoming an fnillarfant y iol.
lem in some portions Of the country.
Two field parties from the burSsl Il of
forestry sare at work, on this profile a.
One will investigate thewwst dune dis
tricts along the 'Atfantic coast, and will
study carefully. the. grasses, shrubs and
trees that can be used either ,for. tempo.
rary or permanent retention Of the said
dunes. and will ALSO inquire into Other
methods Of holding active dunes. or
changing their direction Very sue
cessful work inhoding .ti.G sand by
grass and shrubiplanting has already
been, done by the state of a Massachu-
setts on portion Of Cape Cod known
as the Province. Lands"
The problem along the Columbia river
Is somewhat different from tliat along
the Atlantic coast. owing to the different
origin and character Of the sand. 1t is
expected. however. that the control of
the sand there. like that Of the coast
sand. can be effected by means of grass
or shrub planting, and afterwards by
forestation. ......,
Cleveland Ends Hunting Trip.
/, Norfolk, Nov. 2O,---Ex; President