Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-24

~HE thousands of forest rangers
and patrol men scattered over
the national forests of the
~ United States usually breat he
more easily after the middle of
September for then the greatest danger
of forest fires is passed for the season.
Not that their work is then over. for
fighting fires is only one of dozen diff
ferent kinds of labor in which they are
occupied during the year. Fire fighting
is, however. the most vigorous work in
which these hardy men engage. and is the
particular endeavor TO which the forest
service and the country expect them to
give the closest attention Fire patrol
and fire fighting take precedence over all
other kinds of work at all tmes''-this
is the we'll understood command which is
in their minds all the time But the
ranger is busy with many other matters
both during the dangerous. dry months of
summer and also during tho winter.
The forest ranger is required at some
times and urged at others to study and
to make investiga tions and reports. 1t
is his dLty to see that the grazing. salt
ing, camping and other regulations which
apply TO the national forests are OBJ
served lie sees that game is properly
protected. that no depre6ations are com
mitted. helps to build telephone lines and
trails over his territory. puts up trail
signs, collects seeds of various plants
and trees. and also plants seed. In addi-
ton he usually has a little home of his
own. which he keeps in order and near
which he has vegetable garden.
The forest service is encouraging the
rangers, both for the good which, it is
believed, the men themselves will derive.
and for the benefit Of the service as a
whole. to take up each year some particu-
lar branch of study in connection with
their work. To one ranger, for instance,
who has shown especial interest in for
age plants, the forest superintendent will
assign as topic of study during the
summer: Grasses and forage plants
and what kinds are best adapted for our
ranger stations and pastures. He will
make a report. on this subject in the fall
or winter.
The forestry officials in Washington are
doing all they can to further this sort
of work, realizing that the men will be
of more value as result OF their tnves-
LEGATIONS both to the service and to them
selves and that the information gathered
often will be Of practical use. Whatever
spare time the men ind in the course Of
their daily rounds OF labor they spend
seeing with their own eyes the facts of
nature concealed from those VINO do not
look below the surface. Other rangers
will be required to study and report on
various items
In the winter voluntary reading courses.
which, however, most of them take, are
mapped out for them by the superin-
tendent Of the forest in which they are
EMPLOYED. Examinations are then held,
no reports of which are made officially.
but which make the men feel as if they
have been studying with definite end
In view. Some Of the books which they
use in this work are bulletins prepared
and furnished by the forest service: 9th
ers they must buy. The results of this
work, it is believed. will lead to more
complete and comprehensive reports from
the men OH the subjects which they are
called on to investigate.
Another suggestion recently made by
he Washington officials of the service,
whereby it is hoped to keep the rangers
n closer touch with their work and with
Zach other. is to have news letters pre-
pared at each forest headquarters and
distributed through the districts The
men have been urged to send contribu-