The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-01-06

widely neraldeu, Is Jne UHlJeu OldJeS |
forest service experiment station now
in the course of establishment In the
Manti national forest, seven miles east
of Ephraim, Utah, says the News Its
purposes are manifold, but to obtain
the maximum use of forest resources
and to check destructive agencies, are
the two foremost.
Since early spring large force of
men have been at work on the site
clearing off plots of ground for expert
ments, building a modern laboratory,
residences and other buildings. Not
the least of these labors is the erection
of what perhaps is the strongest fence
in the United States, made out of as
pen poles, each of which weighs half
a ton or more, to defy the ravages of
years.
Already a corps of forest experts has
got the experimental work well under
way.
Manti forest permits for the season
now open have been issued for ap-
proximately $4,000 head of cattle and
$4,000 head of sheep. The season ex-
tends fom April Is to Oct. 15. 1t is
therefore for good reasons that inter-
est in improved usages of the forests
is centered in Utah.
Among the undertakings is one to
eradicate noxious plants from the
range. This is problem with which
stockmen throughout the West are
much concerned. Among the plants to
be eradicated are the giant larksupr,
loco, cammas and unpalatable and
worthless species like the meadow
rue.
Distribution, natural habits and
economic Importance of native forage
plants will form another study. The
Importance of this long mas been rec
ognized in the judicious management
of the range. During the last two sea-
sons such a study has been developed
in a general and specific way on a
number of national forests. AS re-
suit, in the grazing studies files of the
Washington office there are now econ
omic descriptions of about 1000 spe-
cies.
At the experiment station recently
alfalfas of unusual drought resistance,
which had been bred up from Russian
stock by Mr.. Oliver of the bureau of
plant industry, were planted, This was
the first step taken in the introduction
of exotic plants.
The cultivation of Indigenous plants
for artificial reseeding is another big
work on the program Extensive artifi-
cial reseeding experiments, carried out
on SO improved grazing forests out of
159 national forests, have given very
uniform results under various climat-
ic and geological conditions. rela-
lively large part of depleted range
lands can be economically reseeded by
artificial means.
Species worthy of special study will
be planted, at the experiment station
where their life history, growth, re-
quirements and adaptability to various
conditions will be observed closely. A
careful study will be made of growing
seed for planting. This will determine
the economic possibility of introduc'
ing species and the willingness of seed
companies to grow seed for the mar
ket.
The project of artificially reseeding
denuded lands on Manti forest In
cludes the study of the best time and
methods of seeding, the seeding ol
erode6 and denuded lands, and reseed
ing by the strip" method, which
calls for the fencing in of strips o1
lands that have been reseeded so tha
the plants may mature and scatter
their seeds to unseeded areas. Foul
acres will be thus seeded this autumn
to Kentucky blue grass and timothy
The areas will be located parallel II
each other and not further apart thai
300 yards.
Small tracts are now being cleare'
of timber for studying tree reproduc
ton. Exact records of all sprouts aris
ing on each will be kept The basa
diameter and height of each sprou
will recorded and located on maps
Careful descriptions also will be mad
of herbaceous and shrubby growth
and of soil conditions.
A half acre plot in uneven aged al
pen was established last fall Improve
ment thinning plots and reprodpctio
thinning plots will be established
order to study the effects of increase
light on the ground cover, sprouts an
soil moisture. These experiments wi
result in a forest management thu
will bring about the maximum timb'
productivity.
Another plan under way is for
h. ncf tAT.an nj In