The Coconino sun., 1921-09-16

Forestry experiment stations of the west are among the most interesting of the nations undertakings.
 In Flagstaff, Ariz., is the Fort Val ley experiment station of the forestry service of the department of agricul- ture. During the last year this sta tion has accomplished some interest ing things and these have been re- corded by c. A. Pearson, silviculturist, who is known in Fl Paso through his connection with the Association for the Advancement of Science, and who recently spent some time here in that connection. Following is an article of Mir. Pearson dealing with this station:
 'Twelve years ago, or in August, 1908, the first forest experiment sta tion in the United States was estab- lished at Fort Valley, near Flagstaff, Ariz. During the five years follow ing, similar stations were established Tn Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Calif- ornia and Minnesota. The idea was not new, since European forest exper- iment stations have been in existence since 1870.
 "In this country it had a precedent in the agricultural experiment sta tions which are to be found in every state.
 Forest experiment stations are similar to agricultural experiment stations in principle, though different in detail. The efudamental idea in both is that of permanency-a permanent organization, a permanent staff of workers and permanent plant pro viding facilities for carrying exper- mental work over long periods.
 Trees Grow Slowly.
 "The system is particularly well adapted to forest investigations be- cause of the slow development of for est trees as compared with agricultur- al crops and the consequent long per iods required to obtain results.
 Nowhere in the United States is this feature so outstanding as in the southwest where nature requires POO to 300 years to mature a forest and 20 years to restock 1t after the timber crop has been harvested. In mode of operation the two types of stations are as different as the growing and harvesting of farm crops and the growing and harvesting of timber.
 "The agricultural investigator works largely under artificially con- trolled conditions. His field experi- ments are on relatively small plots of titled land where he seeks to work out new scientific acts, or to apply the latest discoveries in science to the arts of planting, cultivation, fertilization, ,r,., rra ttn, anI ho,uactinn
 "The forester, on the other hand, must deal almost exclusively with conditions as he finds them in nature. The problem of the forest investiga- tor is to learn the workings of nature and discover how to take advantage of what she offers. Even in such painstaking work as planting, econom- ic conditions in this country do not permit of the intensive practice poss- ible in the growing of field crops. When the forester has planted his trees his care, aside from protection against fire and other controllable depredations, must end.
 Care in Selections.
 Whether the plantation can, under these conditions, grow into profit able stand of timber, depends upon the forester's judgment in selecting the right species, the right kind of stock and the right method of plant ing for each site; his understanding of plant requirements; and his ability to analyze and interpret factors of soil and climate as they exist.
 But planting is only minor phase