The Thinker by Kessler FORESTRY ALMANAC COMPILED AND EDITED BY THE AMERICAN TREE ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, D. C. COPYRIGHT, 1924, BY THE AMERICAN TREE ASSOCIATION FROM THE PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA, PA. COMPILER'S NOTE For assistance in the preparation of this volume the American Tree Association wishes to express its sin- cere appreciation for the cooperation of State forestry officials, officers of the United States Forest Service, heads of educational institutions giving instruction in forestry and secretaries of private forestry associations. It would likewise like to acknowledge the aid of such valuable sources of information as "The Forest Re- sources of the World", by Zon and Sparhawk; "Forest Products", and "The American Lumber Industry" by Brown; the "History of Forestry", by Fernow; "Our Vanishing Forests" by A. N. Pack, and other volumes. CONTENTS PAGE FORESTRY AND THE FOREST PROBLEM, C. L. PACK 1-3 UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE 4-26 History 4 Foresters 5 Organization 5 Branch of Operation 6 Branch of Forest Management 6 Branch of Grazing 6 Branch of Lands 7 Branch of Research 7 Branch of Engineering 8 Branch of Public Relations 8 Interior Department 9 Department of Agriculture 9 The National Forests 9 Eastern National Forests 1 1 National Forest Administration 12 Recreation in National Forests . . 20 Game Preserves in National Forests 20 National Monuments in National Forests 21 Forest Roads and Trails 21 Fire Protection in National Forests 22 Forest Service Officials 25 NATIONAL FORESTRY LEGISLATION 27 How TO PLANT TREES 30 SELECTED LIST OF TREES 32-35 TREE LINED HIGHWAYS 36 BOY SCOUTS AND FORESTRY 38 FARMER AND His WOODLOT 39 TREES WITH FAMOUS NAMES 40 AMERICAN LEGION AND FORESTRY 41 TREE SEEDS SENT OVERSEAS 42 v vi CONTENTS CITY AND TOWN FORESTS 44 FORESTRY AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 46 FORESTRY AND THE SUMMER CAMP 48 CHARLES LATHROP PACK FOUNDATIONS 49 FORESTRY ASSOCIATIONS 52 The American Tree Association 52 Association of State Foresters 55 American Institute of Park Executives and American Park Society. 56 The American Forestry Association, O. M. Butler 57 National Conference on State Parks 59 The Society of American Foresters 60 British Empire Forestry Conference 62 Canadian Forestry Association, Robson Black 63 Canadian Society of Forest Engineers, J. R. Dickson 64 American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society 65 The Southern Forestry Congress 66 Western Forestry and Conservation Association, E. T. Allen 67 Save the Redwoods League, N. B. Drury 68 Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks 70 Connecticut Forestry Association, P. L. Buttrick 70 Florida Forestry Association 71 Georgia Forestry Association 72 Illinois Forestry Association 72 Iowa Conservation Association 73 Maryland Forestry Association 73 Massachusetts Forestry Association, H. A. Reynolds 74 Michigan Forestry Association 75 Minnesota Forestry Association 76 Missouri Forestry Association 76 Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests, P. W. Ayres. ... 77 New York State Forestry Association, J. R. Simmons 78 North Carolina Forestry Association 79 Oklahoma Forestry Association 80 Pennsylvania Forestry Association, F. L. Bitler 80 Pennsylvania State Conservation Council 82 Tennessee Forestry Association 82 Texas Forestry Association 83 Wild Life League of West Virginia 83 Wisconsin Forestry Association 84 CONTENTS vii AMERICAN NATURE ASSOCIATION 85 NATIONAL FORESTRY PROGRAM COMMITTEE 86 U. S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORESTRY VOTE 87 SELECT COMMITTEE ON REFORESTATION OF THE U. S. SENATE 89 Report of the Senate Committee 90 The McNary-Clarke Forestry Bill 91 FOREST RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION 93 THE AMERICAN LUMBER INDUSTRY, WILSON COMPTON 95 SAMUEL T. DANA ON THE FOREST PROBLEM 101 CHARLES LATHROP PACK DEMONSTRATION FOREST 1 1 1 BEREA COLLEGE FOREST 112 THE MONT ALTO FOREST 113 THE HARVARD FOREST 114 FORESTRY EDUCATION 1 16 Bates College 116 University of California, Division of Forestry 117 Colorado Agricultural College, Department of Forestry 118 Colorado School of Forestry 119 University of Georgia, Division of Forestry 119 Harvard University, Bussey Institution 120 University of Idaho, School of Forestry 121 Iowa State College, Department of Forestry 122 Louisiana State University, Agricultural and Mechanical College. . 123 University of Maine 123 University of Michigan 124 Michigan Agricultural College, Department of Forestry 125 University of Montana, School of Forestry 126 University of Minnesota, College of Agriculture, Forestry 126 University of New Hampshire 127 New York State College of Agriculture, Department of Forestry. . . 128 New York State College of Forestry 129 Oregon State Agricultural College, School of Forestry 131 Pennsylvania State College, Department of Forestry 132 Pennsylvania State Forest School 133 University of Washington, College of Forestry 134 State College of Washington, Department of Forestry 135 Yale University, School of Forestry 136 Short Forestry Courses 137 viii CONTENTS ORGANIZED FORESTRY IN THE STATES, STATE STATISTICS 142-174 CANADA AND HER FORESTS 175 THE FORESTS OF ALASKA 178 FORESTS OF HAWAII, GUAM AND SAMOA 179 FORESTRY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES 180-204 FOREST TAXATION LAWS 205 Connecticut 206 Indiana 207 New Hampshire 207 Louisiana 208 Massachusetts 208 Pennsylvania 209 PRIVATE TECHNICAL FORESTERS 210 ARBOR DAYS IN EACH STATE 211 THE PRESS AND THE FORESTS 213 INDEX 217 FORESTRY AND THE FOREST PROBLEM By Charles Lathrop Pack FORESTRY is a general term susceptible of varying definitions according to the opinions of the definer. Broadly it might be said that to practise forestry is to apply concrete scientific principles to the growth and utilization of timber crops. It does not mean laws com- pelling the planting of a young tree for every old one cut ; regulating the sizes and kinds of trees to be cut; controlling private enterprise by government. It does mean the recreation of forest resources by the best means conceivable, and use of the existing resources with the minimum of waste. Forestry, in the strict sense, is a science. It relates to the proper- ties of wood ; the best uses to which it can be put ; the best conditions under which it can be grown. Management is an economic science applied to forestry, and an increasingly important and appreciated phase of the question. Forest fire prevention, and insect and disease control and eradication are vitally important factors in the bigger issue. Beyond the questions of the planting, growing and protecting of forests there is the broader question of the " forest problem." These two words represent something that concerns every citizen. The science of forestry must be left to trained men who dedicate their life to the work, but the solution of the forestry problem rests with the intelligent and informed activity of the people of the nation. Their action must reflect an aroused appreciation of the importance of the forest in their economic and social life. What is this problem ? Estimates place the original forests of the United States at 822,000,000 acres. Today there remain 138,000,000 acres of virgin forest ; 250,000,000 acres covered with second-growth timber or young trees of no commercial value, and 81,000,000 acres of land — fitted for no other purpose than forest growth — that are barren and unproductive of anything. Including virgin and second-growth 2 FORESTRY ALMANAC timber, then, it is estimated that 42 per cent, of our original resources are left. Furthermore, we are using our remaining resources between four and five times as fast as they are being reproduced. In addition to the condition of depletion, there is a serious dislo- cation of our remaining forest assets from the point of view of geography. Three- fourths of the land classed as actual and potential forest land lies to the east of the Great Plains. In this section, where industrial enterprise has been built with a large measure of dependence upon wood, however, is found only 25 per cent, of the virgin timber and 40 per cent, of the merchantable stand. Thus 75 per cent, of the virgin timber and 60 per cent, of all the timber is found in the Rocky Mountains and in the states of the Pacific Coast. The bulk of the remaining resource east of the Plains is con- centrated in the South. The industrial states of the northeast and the central and lake states are dependents for their forest resources, in contrast with original forests sufficient to sustain them. In all of these states there are from one to six million acres of denuded, unworking land. These states pay an enormous annual freight bill for their timber, and in no few cases the transportation cost of the lumber is equal to what the timber itself cost delivered 30 years ago. We have, then, a problem of dependent states, of dislocated sources of supply, of idle lands and of continued rapid inroads into our remaining assets. It is a situation that has gradually been brought to the attention of the public until there is a fairly widespread and intelligent sentiment concerning the situation. At the same time that the public education has been going forward, the Federal Government and the states have been doing what they can to prepare for the future. There have been set aside about 156,000,000 acres as National Forests, administered by the United States Forest Service. They are being judiciously cut, protected from fire and reforested as rapidly as resources permit. The majority of the states have taken action in one way or another to create departments charged with the protection and rebuilding of forest resources. In some cases cities and towns have entered upon active forest policies. On the scientific side, both the Federal Government and the states have established stations for research and experiment in the fields of utilization and sylviculture. More than a score of the institutions of higher education have established schools to train technical foresters, FORESTRY AND THE FORESTRY PROBLEM 3 and many others provide general courses in the economics of forestry, or on forestry for the farmer. The forestry movement toward the solution of the forestry prob- lem has gained rapid momentum. Progress has been made to a point where the vital need of a definite forest policy, coordinating the work of the Nation and the states, is beyond question. The necessity of tax adjustments that will encourage reforestation is plain. The need of redoubled efforts to protect the forests from the drain of fires and disease is obvious. Reforestation, more careful management, elimina- tion of waste are among the items that must be incorporated in such a policy. In view of that which has already been accomplished by the various active agencies, and in the light of the gradual accumulation of facts about the forestry problem and the condition of the forests, the American Tree Association has felt that an Almanac of Forestry will aid in giving a clear conception of the present situation. In this volume, therefore, has been assembled all the important available information concerning forestry endeavor; presenting fig- ures as simply and yet as descriptively as possible ; showing the basis and scope of the forestry movement, and, in general, summing up the situation. The Almanac is not designed to be a compendium of detailed statistics or scientific facts, but rather a volume through which all interested in forestry and conservation may find what has been done, what is being done and what is yet to be done. 4 FORESTRY ALMANAC THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE In the United States Forest Service the Government has centred virtually all of its national forestry activities. Headed by " The Forester," under the general supervision of the Department of Agri- culture, this bureau has the responsibility of administering the National Forests. It conducts research into timber production and utilization. It regulates grazing in the National Forest areas. It cooperates with the states in forestry work ; examines and classi- fies lands for their forest value ; carries on recreational work within the national timber lands ; performs engineering functions in connec- tion with water power resources, highways and surveys in the National Forests. The activities of the Forest Service are far flung, and through close contact both with all branches of the wide field of forest practice and wood use and with the public, the bureau moulds the forestry progress of the country. HISTORY OF FEDERAL FOREST WORK Forty-eight years ago, in 1876, a special agent was appointed by the Department of Agriculture to study the forestry conditions in the United States as they then existed. This action was a reflec- tion of the gradually awakening recognition of the need of a forestry movement. Despite the abounding forest that had to be cleared away to allow agricultural development, the seed of conservation was sown even in colonial days. William Penn's requirement that one acre of forest be left for every five cleared, and Connecticut's ordinance that timber should not be taken out of the township, on the ground that it would be prejudicial to the public welfare, were early attempts to check prodigal use of this resource. To insure national defense, Congress appropriated $200,000 in 1799 to buy a forest reserve containing tim- ber for ships, and in 1827 an attempt was made to grow live oak for this purpose. Several states began to look to their timber assets, and in 1873 Congress passed the Timber Culture Act. Ineffective though it was the law sought to encourage f orestation by allowing a patent of 1 60 acres of the public domain to any settler planting and keeping up forty acres of timber in treeless sections. ORGANIZATION OP THEiFOREST SERVICE In 1886, ten years after the first investigation was inaugurated, the Division of Forestry was created in the Department of Agricul- ture. For several years it was limited to an informational capacity by annual appropriations never exceeding $30,000. Gradually the field work was expanded until in 1901 the division became the Bureau of Forestry. Four years later it became the Forest Service and its appropriation for the fiscal year of 1924 is $12,731,869. UNITED STATES FORESTERS Name Dr. Franklin B. Hough Mr. N. H. Eggleston Dr. B. E. Fernow Mr. GifTord Pinchot Mr. Henry S. Graves Col. William B. Greeley Term 1876-1883 1883-1886 1886-1898 1898-1901 I9OI-I9O5 I905-I9IO I9IO-I920 1920- Title Agent Agent Chief of the Division of Forestry Chief of the Division of Forestry Chief of the Bureau of Forestry Chief of the Forest Service Chief of the Forest Service Chief of the Forest Service ORGANIZATION OF THE FOREST SERVICE In organization the United States Forest Service is divided into two parts, the Washington office and the field service. In Washington, under the direction of the Forester and the Associate Forester, there are seven administrative branches classified under the headings of Operation, Forest Management, Grazing, Lands, Research, Engineer- ing and Public Relations. In the field there are eight National Forest Districts, each with headquarters in charge of district foresters. The different branches direct their particular work in the several districts, the district forester being aided by an assistant. The forests are admin- istered by supervisors, and the work is carried forward by workers in special phases of the activity. Also in the field is the Forest Products 6 FORESTRY ALMANAC Laboratory, maintained for research work in connection with the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and investigation is carried on at other forest experimentation stations. Branch of Operation Under this branch of the Forest Service is placed general super- vision of the finances, personnel, quarters and supplies and equipment of the Service. It administers the moneys allotted for the various purposes of the work. It exercises a check on the wide variety of equipment necessary, from blueprints to fire lookout towers. It supervises the quarters allotted to the Service in Washington and in the field. This branch also has charge of all of the work in the nature of permanent improvement carried on in the National Forests. For the purpose of fighting fires, watch stations, ranger stations and tele- phone lines are necessary. Public camp grounds, places for watering stock and many other improvements of general or specific public benefit are installed. All of these activities are centred in the hands of this branch. Branch of Forest Management The work of supervising the sale and cutting of timber on the National Forests is entrusted to this branch of the Service. Within the area of the forests there is considerable denuded land fitted only for forest production. The task of reforesting this acreage is placed in the hands of this branch. It also carries on cooperation with the states in protecting the forest resources under the terms of the Weeks Law, administering the financial provisions of the act for cooperative contributions of funds for fire-protection on the watersheds of navi- gable streams. Branch of Grazing To this branch is given supervision of the grazing of about seven million sheep and goats and two million cattle and swine on National Forest land every year. Settlers and stockmen of the vicinity are given the first opportunity to use this resource under permit. The administrative branch has charge of issuing these permits, regulating the grazing against overcrowding, and conducting work of research and practice in improving grazing areas. Investigations are carried on BRANCH OF RESEARCH 7 at experimental stations to study the relative values of forage, methods of handling stock, elimination of poisonous plants and means to reseeding and the general effect of grazing on the lands. Cooperation is effected with national and state authorities in enforcing quarantine requirements. The revenue from grazing permits is normally about two million dollars a year and nearly 36,000 permits for 6,851,690 sheep; 1,915,113 cattle; 69,640 horses; 39,889 goats and 1888 swine (exclusive of animals grazing less than six months) were issued dur- ing the 1923 fiscal year. Branch of Lands Checking up on the assets and liabilities of the lands within the National Forests is one of the several important duties of this branch of the Service. Areas are examined and classified, setting forth their value for forest purposes. They are grouped according to their value for raising certain classes or kinds of trees, or for their special adapta- bility for agricultural, grazing or recreational uses. The branch con- ducts all work arising in connection with claims on the National Forests before they become proceedings. It supervises in a general way the issue of permits for special use of the lands for residential, commercial or industrial purposes not dangerous to the areas them- selves. Recreation resources of the forests are being developed through roads and trails, free camp grounds and conveniences. Fish- ing and hunting are permitted under the restrictions imposed by the state in which the forest is situated, and the branch exercises general control over this activity in the large. It has further duties in con- trolling exchanges of the National Forest timber and lands for lands within the areas under private ownership, and in administering the work in connection with the purchase of forest lands in the East. Branch of Research Under this branch are grouped all the activities directed to improve the production and utilization of timber. All the investigative work of the Service is under the supervision of this office. Many studies are carried on with a view not only to their effect on the administration of the National Forests but on wood users and producers in general. Among these inquiries are studies of forest management, the best 2 8 FORESTRY ALMANAC methods of growing and cutting, the most desirable kinds of trees under given conditions, the relation of forests to climate and the flow of streams, and general sylvicultural experimentation. Experimental stations are maintained at Amherst, Massachusetts; St. Paul, Min- nesota; Asheville, North Carolina; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Missoula, Montana; Stabler, Washington; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Flagstaff, Arizona to carry on this work. The Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wisconsin, is concerned with discovering the most effective uses of wood, going into the chemical, mechanical and physical properties and conducting general research into fields as yet untouched. Studies of forest economics, statistics, imports and ex- ports, taxation and economic problems involved with our timber resources are made. Branch of Engineering Virtually all of the civil-engineering work with which the Forest Service is concerned is concentrated in the hands of this branch. Within the National Forests there are many streams — their head- waters protected by adequate timber growth — that are suitable sites for water power development. Their utilization is encouraged although the government does not permit monopoly in any region or permit the holding of sites without development. The engineering branch administers all of the permits and easements issued for power development prior to the passage of the Federal Water Power Act and the creation of the Federal Power Commission. It cooperates with the commission in making such studies and reports as are requested by it. Road-building in the National Forests is being pushed to the limits of the funds available, and already 6873 miles of roads have been built. Trails now covering 10,675 miles have been put through both for recreational and fire-fighting uses. The engineering branch has charge of this work. It also has the work of making surveys and maps needed by the Service, and any special engineering activities are allotted to it. Branch of Public Relations Since the increase in the use of the National Forests for recrea- tional purposes, their value as a national asset, and the necessity of keeping fires out of them, require appreciation and cooperation on THE NATIONAL FORESTS 9 the part of the public, a special branch is charged with this contact work. Through the press and other publications, information and material for the schools, exhibits of various sorts and other mediums, this cooperation is sought. A large collection of photographs illustra- tive of the many phases of forestry work has been gathered and is available. Maps, lantern slides, motion pictures, travelling exhibits and special publications of the Service are included in the educational equipment of the Service. OTHER GOVERNMENT FORESTRY ACTIVITIES Interior Department Under this governmental department are the Office of Indian Affairs and the National Park Service. Within the areas of the Indian Reservations and the National Parks there are considerable forest areas, administered by these two bureaus, and constituting a forest reserve preserved with a view to the aesthetic value of the wonderful natural areas that the government has set aside as national playgrounds. Department of Agriculture Through the Office of Forest Pathology of the Bureau of Plant Industry, investigation and experiment of high value to forestry work is carried on. Studies are made of the activities of such pests as the spruce bud worm and the white pine blister rust with a view to con- trolling the enemies of the growing timber. The pathology office concerns itself with the diseases of the trees while the Bureau of Entomology studies the insects that attack the forests. Through this work cooperation is effected with the Forest Service in carrying on important protective work. THE NATIONAL FORESTS " From the hardwoods of the Southern Appalachians to the spruces of the White Mountains in New England, from the pinon and juniper stands where tree growth begins in the southern Rockies of New Mexico to the pine and fir forests of the Canadian line in Montana and Idaho, from the brush-covered foothills of the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains in southern California to the 10 FORESTRY ALMANAC vast softwood stands of the Olympics and Cascades in northern Washington, the National Forests lie mainly on the mountain slopes. Even along the Alaskan shore, where the Tongass and Chugach Forests form a tattered ribbon six hundred miles long from the south- ern tip of the territory to within sight of Mount McKinley, the valuable Sitka spruce and hemlock growth clothes the lower flanks of the coastal mountains." In these words the United States Forest Service describes the 149 National Forests, totalling more than 156,000,000 acres, which it administers for the public. These areas are maintained in the best interests of the general welfare. They enclose a great material wealth in wood, water and land for forage. They contribute largely to indus- trial enterprise through their yearly yield of practically one billion board feet of timber. They protect the watersheds of one-third of the waterpower resources of the country and the water supply of more than a thousand communities. The National Forests provide pastur- age of millions of live stock. They are the playgrounds of recreation seekers in search of camp and trail. Although the country was aroused to the need of a forestry move- ment along national lines longer ago, three decades represent the period in which these National Forest assets have been acquired. Before that the public domain was being swept by fire or taken up by private enterprise and cut over at a devastating rate. Timber booms came and moved on, leaving a wake of destruction. Had this gone on not only the timber resources but the agricultural land and water- power resources would have been ruined or seriously hurt. In 1891 Congress empowered the President to set aside forest reserves from the public domain, to protect both the timber resources and the flow of streams. That year President Harrison created the " Yellowstone Park Timberland Reserve," starting the work of con- servation. The act of Congress, however, did not provide for administration of this territory, and the present system really dates from June 4, 1897, when Congress passed a law creating a plan of organization and management and placing it in the hands of the Department of the Interior. It soon became apparent that the administration of these reserves required scientific and technical supervisions. At first the Department of Agriculture was requested to lend the aid of experts and finally EASTERN NATIONAL FORESTS 11 it was recommended that a transfer of stewardship be made. This was accomplished in 1905 and two years later the title National Forests was conferred, the philosophy being that " reserves " indi- cated something locked up for the future. EASTERN NATIONAL FORESTS Creation of National Forests east of the Mississippi River pre- sented a different problem from those of the West. The public domain in the East had long been taken over before the government embarked on a Forest policy. In 1911, therefore, under the provisions of the so-called Weeks Law, a program of purchase of mountain lands from private owners was begun, applying to the regions of the White and Appalachian Mountains. The Act created the National Forest Reservation Commission. It consists of the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture and two members from each branch of Congress. This body has the power to acquire lands for National Forests, and since the passage of the Act about two million acres of spruce or hardwood forest have been purchased. They have been placed under the systematic management of the Forest Service and are administered as are the western Forests with a view to regulating and assuring the flow of streams and increasing the supply of forest products. Under the practice of forestry in these areas the resources of timber have been steadily increasing. The eastern National Forests now represent a value greater than that paid for them by the Govern- ment, and they return a rapidly increasing revenue, being now virtu- ally self-supporting. They represent a highly valuable resource to sustain eastern wood-using industries. The following is a list of lands either purchased or approved for purchase under the provisions of the Weeks Law since its enactment: 12 FORESTRY ALMANAC Lands Acquired Under the Weeks Law. To JUNE 30, 1923. State. Area. Total. Area approved for pur- chase. Ac- quired. Headquarters. Alabama Alabama A cres. 83 91 1 A cres. 4 462 Acres. 79 449 Moulton. Arkansas Arkansas 36,901 2,654 34,247 Hot Springs. Ozark 21,067 2,108 18 959 Russellville Total 57,968 4,762 53 206 Cherokee (part) 70 196 1,156 69 040 Athens Tenn Nantahala (part) 89.575 5,158 84,417 Franklin, N. C. Total 159,771 6,314 153,457 Maine White Mountain (part) 32,256 o 32 256 Gorham, N. H. New Hampshire .... White Mountain (part) 408,325 3,38o 404,945 Gorham. North Carolina. Nantahala (part) 112,877 1,014 111,863 Franklin. Pisgah 220 560 3 685 216 875 Unaka (part) 2O,O99 516 19,583 Bristol, Tenn. Total 353,536 5,215 348,321 Allegheny l 108,886 108 886 o Warren. South Carolina Nantahala (part) I9,l6l 603 18,558 Franklin, N. C. Cherokee (part) . . 141,636 1,084 140,552 Athens. Unaka (part) I3O,l66 29,508 100,658 Bristol. Total 271,802 30,592 241,210 Virginia Monongahela (part).. . . 10,414 10,414 o Elkins, W. Va. Natural Bridge 143,386 22,090 121,296 Lynchburg. Shenandoah (part) Unaka (part) 301,669 45,201 13,856 22,797 287,813 22,404 Harrisonburg. Bristol, Tenn. Total 500,670 69,157 431,513 West Virginia . . Monongahela (part).. . . 159,963 75,462 84,501 Elkins. Shenandoah (part) 51,885 4,278 47,607 Harrisonburg, Va. Total 211 848 79 740 132 108 Grand total . . 2,208,134 313,111 1,895,023 1Purchase area not proclaimed as National Forest. NATIONAL FOREST ADMINISTRATION With a view to slashing red tape and avoiding bureaucratic delay, the work of administering the National Forests has been divided into eight field districts. Each district is under the direction of a district forester, whose work is directed by the several branches charged with NATIONAL FOREST ADMINISTRATION 13 special duties. He is assisted by assistant district foresters, immedi- ately charged with specialized work carried on in their district. Each forest is run by a forest supervisor, who has a deputy when the work of administration requires. Various lines of technical and administrative work must be carried on in running a forest. This is done by forest assistants chosen through technical examination. After a period of practice they are eligible for posts of forest examiners, doing work of mapping areas, examining timber, carrying on planting or nursery work and marking timber for cutting. Each National Forest is further divided into ranger districts. The Forest Ranger is the watchdog of the fire. He supervises timber sales, grazing and uses of the forest. He helps build trails, roads and bridges and string telephone lines. In addition there are special field men needed in connection with logging and reforestation work. Dur- ing the period of greatest fire danger special forest guards are employed temporarily. The eight National Forest Districts are: I. Northern District — Montana, northeastern Washington, north- ern Idaho and northwestern South Dakota. Headquarters at Mis- soula, Montana. II. Rocky Mountain District — Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, northern Michigan and northern Minnesota. Headquarters at Denver, Colorado. III. Southwestern District — Arizona and New Mexico. Head- quarters at Albuquerque, New Mexico. IV. Intermountain District — Utah, southern Idaho, western Wyoming, eastern and central Nevada and northwestern Arizona. Headquarters at Ogden, Utah. V. California District — California and southwestern Nevada. Headquarters at San Francisco, California. VI. North Pacific District — Washington and Oregon, Head- quarters at Portland, Oregon. VII. Eastern District — Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Porto Rico. Headquarters at Washington, D. C. VIII. Alaskan District — Alaska. Headquarters at Juneau. 14 FORESTRY ALMANAC The following is a list of the National Forests, their names, net areas, headquarters and districts as compiled by the Branch of Engi- neering of the United States Forest Service and corrected up to June 30, 1923. State Forest Net area Forest headquarters District Alabama Alabama Acres 107 jog Moulton 7 Alaska Chugach 5.I2Q.I2O Cordova 8 Tongass 15,442,420 Ketchikan . 8 Total 2O 571 540 Arizona .... Apache I IQO 211 Springerville Coconino I 588 Q5O Flagstaff Coronado z. . 1.^0^,^80 Tucson Crook 889,126 Safford Dixie2 I7,68O Cedar City, Utah Kaibab 752,214. Kanab, Utah Prescott I 44.5 51"* Prescott Sitgreaves 62Q. 585 Holbrook •i Tonto 2 112 888 Phoenix Tusayan I 274 757 Williams Total 11.204,^04 Arkansas Arkansas 3 65Q 725 Hot Springs Na- 7 Ozark 4 207,522 tional Park. Russell ville 7 Total Q57 247 California Angeles. . . 829 O8O Los Angeles . . . c California. . 8l8.Q4.0 Willows 5 Cleveland . . . 54.Q.226 San Diego 5 Crater2 4.8,14.8 Medford, Oreg. . . . 6 Eldorado 2 552,518 5 Inyo 2 I 6^2 556 Bishop Klamath 2 I 525 257 Yreka Lassen Q42 84.6 Susanville c Modoc I 4.6l 500 Alturas 5 Mono 2 704., ^4.6 Minden, Nev 5 Plumas. . 1,108,04? Quincy 5 Santa Barbara. . . . Sequoia 2,022,948 1,4.50,4.84 Santa Barbara. . . . Porterville 5 5 1 This includes 79,449 acres acquired under the Weeks law. * Forest in more than one State. 1 This includes 34,247 acres acquired under the Weeks law. • This includes 2,654 acres approved for purchase under the Weeks law. NATIONAL FOREST ADMINISTRATION 15 State Forest Net area Forest headquarters District California Shasta Acres 840,S76 Sisson t: (Continued.) Sierra T 4Q 7 4OO Northfork Siskiyou * -74.8 877 Grants Pass, Oreg 6 Stanislaus 8lO,8O2 Sonora Tahoe 6 408,805 Nevada City Trinity 1,4.10,0^7 Weaverville K Total 10,147,587 Colorado . Arapaho 6^5,000 Hot Sulphur 2 Battlement. 6e:Q 86^ Springs. Grand Junction. 2 Cochetopa 008,^^^ Salida . . 2 Colorado 8e>^.6di Fort Collins.. . . 2 Gunnison . . . QOS.^O^ Gunnison 2 Hay den 6 6s;, 760 Encampment, 2 Holy Cross i ,124., ^60 Wyo. Glenwood Springs 2 La Sal 5 26 631 Moab Utah A Leadville 027 ^88 Leadville 2 Montezuma 6Q7 I4.I Mancos 2 Pike I 084. ^8 Colorado Springs. 2 Rio Grande I 1^5.778 Monte Vista 2 Routt 74.2,827 Steamboat Springs 2 San Isabel . . cq8,o^6 Pueblo 2 San Juan 1,240,112 Durango 2 Uncompahgre .... 778,201 Delta 2 White River 802,416 Glenwood Springs . 2 Total 1 7, 277, Ol8 Florida Florida 7-17,0^8 Pensacola 7 Georgia Cherokee 6 60 O4O Athens, Tenn. . 7 Nantahala 6 84,4.17 Franklin, N. C.. 7 Total . 1 57.45:7 Idaho Boise 1,062,687 Boise 4 Cache 5 4Q4 \\2 Logan Utah Caribou 8 607 556 Montpelier Challis 12^^ ^70 Challis . Clearwater 78=; 776 Orofino I Coeur d'Alene.. . . Idaho 662,009 1,86^.01^ Coeur d'Alene.. . . McCall I 4" Kaniksu 5 188,310 Sandpoint I Lemhi i,1; ^6,204 Mackay 4 IVIinidoka * C2I O7I Burley A 6 Forest in more than one State. 16 FORESTRY ALMANAC State Forest Net area Forest headquarters District Idaho Acres 1,658,587 Grangeville I (Continued) Payette I 2O2 244 Emmett PendOreille 674,7'*'* Sandpoint. . . . I St. Joe 551,272 Coeur d ' Alene I Salmon I,65Q,Q^2 Salmon Sawtooth 1,158,579 Hailey Selway 1,688,287 Kooskia I Targhee 8 I,OII,9O6 St. Anthony Weiser 566,^21 Weiser Total IQ O56 871 Maine White Mountain 6 •22 256 Gorham N H 7 Michigan Michigan . ... 124,082 East Tawas 2 Minnesota. . . Minnesota I9O,6O2 Cass Lake 2 Superior 857, no Ely. . 2 Total 1,047,041 ^Montana Absaroka 841 06^ Livingston Beartooth . . 65Q 72O Billings Beaverhead . . I. nO. 421 Dillon Bitterroot 1.047,065 Hamilton Blackfeet 817. m Kalispell Cabinet 820,184 Thompson Falls. Custer 6 5I7.OQQ Miles City . . Deerlodge 82Q.S82 Butte Flathead 1.7*1.362 Kalispell Gallatin 574,687 Bozeman Helena 680 078 Helena Jefferson I 040,246 Great Falls Kootenai 1,^^2,145 Libby Lewis and Clark 810,71*1 Choteau Lolo 850,677 Missoula Madison 0^0,06'; Sheridan . . Missoula I,O^O,^57 Missoula Total 15,881,715 Nebraska Nebraska 2O5 Q44 Halsey 2 Nevada . . . Dixie6 56,^24 Cedar City, Utah. . 4. Eldorado 6 4OO Placerville, Calif. . 5 Humboldt I,**22,4'*5 Elko 4 Inyo 6 6O.176 Bishop, Calif 5 Mono 6 46^ 082 M[inden 5 6 Forest in more than one State. NATIONAL FOREST ADMINISTRATION 17 State Forest Net area Forest headquarters District Nevada Nevada . ... Acres 1,175,281 Ely. . (Continued) Tahoe 7 IT.,857 Nevada City, • Toiyabe 1,883,862 Calif. Austin Total 4,076, 51"} New Hampshire White Mountain 7 4O4 04.5 Gorham 7 New ^lexico Carson I O66,57O Taos. 7 Coronado 7 I25.54O Tucson, Ariz. . . 7 Datil 2,641,785 Magdalena 7 Gila 1,506,216 Silver City 7 Lincoln 1,127,571 Alamogordo 7 Manzano 712,742 Albuquerque 7 Santa Fe 1,270,400 Santa Fe 7 Total 8 575 Q84 North Carolina Cherokee 7 o Athens, Tenn. 7 Nantahala 7 8 115 l65 Franklin 7 Pisgah 9 224, Q42 Asheville . . . 7 Unaka 7 10,587 Bristol, Tenn 7 Total . 750,600 Oklahom a Wichita 61 480 Cache 7 Oregon Cascade i 022,677 Eugene 6 Crater 7 804,400 Medford 6 Deschutes 1,284,008 Bend 6 Fremont 840,526 Lakeview 6 Klamath 7 8 727 Yreka, Calif c M^alheur I 048 666 John Day i Ochoco 717 QQ4. Prineville 6 Oregon I O54 I7Q Portland . 6 Santiam 6O7.OOO Albany . . 6 Siskiyou 7 QQ8.O2I Grants Pass 6 Siuslaw . 54.5, OIQ Eugene 6 Umatilla7 QI5,46l Pendleton 6 Umpqua I,OIO,2O7 Roseburg 6 Wallowa Q57,l66 Wallowa 6 V^hitman I -21-2 44 c Baker 6 Total 17 177.447 7 Forest in more than one State. 8 This includes 3,302 acres transferred from the Treasury Department. •This includes 8,067 acres transferred from the Treasury Department. 18 FORESTRY ALMANAC State Forest Net area Forest headquarters District Porto Rico Luquillo Acres 12,4.41 Rio Piedras 7 South Carolina. . . . Nantahala 10 18,558 Franklin, N. C.... 7 South Dakota Black Hills 10 4.76 1 40 Dead wood 2 Custer 10 . . 77 C26 Miles City Mont I Harney 508 O8 1 Custer 2 Total I O57 74.7 Tennessee Cherokee 10 . . I4O.552 Athens 7 Unaka 10 100,658 Bristol 7 Total 24I,2IO Utah Ashley 10 Q7^,826 Vernal 4 Cache 10 276, 525 Logan Dixie 10 m/tRa Cedar City Fillmore Fishlake 703,815 662,005 Richfield Richfield 4 4 La Sal 10 512,564 Moab 4 Manti 77Q 8l I Ephraim Minidoka 10 60 ^Q2 Burley Idaho A Powell 1 .050, ^6 5 Widtsoe A Uinta 1,021,041 Provo A Wasatch 608,667 Salt Lake City Total 7,45-2,400 Virginia Monongahela 10. . . o Elkins, W. Va. 7 Natural Bridge . . . Shenandoah 10 . . . . 121,296 287,811 Lynchburg Harrisonburg 7 7 Unaka 10 22 4O4 Bristol Tenn 7 Total 471,511 Washington Chelan I QQ7 ?8o Okanogan 6 Columbia 764,026 Portland, Oreg. . . . 6 Colville 74.6 ^8l Republic 6 Kaniksu 10 257 6O7 Sandpoint Idaho i Olympic I C-2C CQ'l Olympia 6 Rainier i, ill, 787 Tacoma 6 Snoqualmie . . . 60^.4.1 5 Seattle . 6 Umatilla 10 m,4iQ Pendleton, Oreg. 6 Washington I.45Q.4QI Bellingham 6 Wenatchee 8l8,540 Wenatchee 6 Total o 000,860 w Forest in more than one State. NATIONAL FOREST ADMINISTRATION 19 State Forest Net area Forest headquarters District West Virginia Monongahela11. . . Acres 84,5OI Elkins 7 Shenandoah u . . . . 47,607 Harrisonburg, Va.. 7 Total 132 108 Wyoming Ashley u e 088 Vernal Utah Bighorn I 124 617 Sheridan 2 Black Hills11 Caribou u 144,416 6,^1 5 Deadwood, S. Dak. Mtontpelier Idaho 2 Hayden n ^28,284 Encampment 2 Medicine Bow. . . . 4.78,114. Laramie 2 Shoshone 1,584,280 Cody 2 Targhee u . 'I AC cf)Q St Anthony Teton 1,881,396 Idaho. Jackson A Washakie 8S2, 'US Lander ... 2 Wyoming 1,666 470 Kemmerer Total 84.17 1T\ Aggregate for forests the 146 national I 57,2^6 8O7 11 Forest in more than one State. National Forest Areas, by Districts. No. Name District Headquarters Gross area Alienated lands Net area I 2 Northern District . Rocky Mountain Missoula, Mont. . . Denver, Colo Acres 26,527,704 22, 547,^61 Acres 4,106,282 2,422 7^1 Acres 22,421,422 2O 124 630 3 District. Southwestern Dis- trict Albuquerque, N. Mex. . . 21 CK7 7l8 2 O87 ^24. 1 8 Q7O "^04. 4 5 6 8 Intermountain District. California District. North Pacific District. Eastern District. . . Alaskan District.. . Ogden, Utah San Francisco, Calif. Portland, Oreg.... Washington, D. C,. Juneau, Alaska . . . 30,653,287 24,442,844 27,092,438 9,070,332 20,708,118 1,211,425 5^44.948 3,923,427 5,830,289 136,569 29,441,862 19,297,896 23,169,011 3,240,043 20,571,549 Total of the 8 dis- districts .... 182 099 802 2/1 862 QQ ^ I ^7 2^6 80 20 FORESTRY ALMANAC RECREATION IN THE NATIONAL FOREST Several million people every year take advantage of the recrea- tional facilities offered by the National Forests. This phase of the administration of the forests is being developed by the Forest Service in accord with the policy of making these properties of the people serve them to the best advantage. Through trails and roads the forests are made accessible. Within them there are many lakes and brooks, admirable for fishing and camping. Game is found in some areas and streams are stocked with fish. Camping in the National Forests is free. As a general rule no permits are required. The only return that the Forest Service asks is care with fires and the sanitation of camps. For those who wish to spend their vacations every year in the National Forests, Congress has authorized the issuance of permits to responsible individuals or associations to use space in the areas for the construction of such buildings as are necessary for recreation and public convenience. The area rented to each individual or group is limited to five acres. Per- mits run from 5 to 15 years or longer, and the annual rental charges are small, varying from $5 to $25. The forest supervisor is in charge of the recreational permit work. Because of their limited areas and the growing demand for public camping facilities leases for summer homes in the eastern National Forests are allowed only on a clear showing that the site involved will not be needed for general public use. GAME PRESERVES IN NATIONAL FORESTS Cooperating with local and state authorities in enforcing game laws, the field men of the Forest Service are charged with a certain amount of game protective work. The conservation of this wild life adds greatly to the beauty and enjoyment of the forest areas. By act of Congress game sanctuaries have been set aside either wholly or partly within the National Forests. They are: The Custer State Park Game Sanctuary in the Harney National Forest of South Dakota; the Grand Canyon in the Kaibab and Tusayan National Forests of Arizona; Pisgah Game Preserve in the Pisgah National Forest of North Carolina and the Wichita Preserve in the Wichita National Forest of Oklahoma. FOREST ROADS AND TRAILS 21 NATIONAL MONUMENTS IN NATIONAL FORESTS When such wonders of historic significance as the cliff dwellings or pueblo ruins or such unique topographic marvels as are found in many parts of the West fall within the area of the National Forests, the Forest Service is charged with their administration. They have been designated National Monuments by Congress, and cooperation is effected with the Bureau of American Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution in protecting them and studying them. The following National Monuments are to be found in the National Forests : The Bandelier in the Santa Fe National Forest of New Mexico ; the Devil Post Pile in the Sierra National Forest of California; the Gila Cliff Dwellings in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico ; the Jewel Cave in the Harney National Forest in South Dakota ; the Old Kassaan in the Tongass National Forest of Alaska ; the Mount Olympus in the Olympic National Forest in Washington ; the Oregon Caves in the Siskiyou National Forest of Oregon; the Tonto in the Tonto National Forest of Arizona ; Walnut Canyon in the Coconino National Forest of Arizona and Wheeler in the Cochetopa and Rio Grande National Forests in Colorado. FOREST ROADS AND TRAILS Annually apportionment is made to the states having National Forests within their borders of a sum for the construction in coop- eration with the local authorities of roads and trails within the forests. This is known as the Section 8 fund and is expended under coop- erative agreements with the states. For the fiscal year 1924 there is a total of $1,000,000 available. Of this $100,000 is reserved for administrative work. The following allocation of the remainder is made: Arizona, $54,209; Arkansas, $9732; California, $126,822; Colorado, $67,537; Idaho, $114,764; Montana,$64,889 ; Nevada, $17,164; New Mexico, $37,945; Oregon, $136,686; South Dakota, $7495; Utah, $38,319; Washington, $85,- 741; Wyoming, $45,201. Alaska will receive $43,919. Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Porto Rico will share in $13,980. Alabama, Georgia, Maine, New Hamp- shire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia will share in $35,597. 22 FORESTRY ALMANAC FIRE PROTECTION IN NATIONAL FORESTS Fire is the lurking enemy of the National Forests. To guard against this costly scourge sweeping the widespread areas of the forests is a constant problem. It is complicated by remoteness, dry air and light rainfall, mountain lightning and the carelessness of human beings. During 1923 fires within the boundaries of the National Forests covered an area of 373,214 acres. The destruction of timber and property is set at $494,965,000, and the damage to young growth, protection of watersheds and recreational facilities is incalculable because intangible. It is estimated that 60 per cent, of these fires were caused by man. To protect against and combat this menace to the forest wealth, the Forest Service maintains an extensive organization. By means of lookout towers, patrols and a comprehensive telephone system, the word of a discovered fire is flashed to the fire-fighters. Airplanes have been used with some success — particularly when no fires are already burning — to detect fires. Experiments are being made with the radio. Roads and trails are being built into the National Forest areas so that burning areas may be reached more quickly. Tools for the combat, and food for the combatants, are stored in various places. During the danger seasons of the summer extra patrols and rangers are added. Still the match carelessly thrown aside, the cigarette, cigar or pipe ash dropped in the brush, the unquenched campfire, make waste. Lightning, sawmills, railroad engines, slash burning and incendiarism account for many of the fires. Methods are being employed through spark arresters and similar devices to check fires from trains and mills. Regulations are effected against slash burning. Vigilance is the only weapon against lightning and the fire-setter. Through cooperation with the states, the Federal Government, under the Weeks Law aids in protecting against fire on the forested watersheds of navigable streams. Under this law the Secretary of Agriculture is allowed to enter into cooperation with states maintain- ing a system of fire control and spending at least as much as the Federal Government. The Forest Service uses that fund to pay the salaries of a certain number of state patrols. There has been a steady increase in this work, and the Federal Government will con- FIRE PROTECTION IN NATIONAL FORESTS 23 tribute $400,000 in cooperation with 27 states. There are twelve states, however, that have no fire protection organization of their own, and others with insufficient organization to warrant cooperation. Allotments of funds under the Weeks Law for cooperative activity in fire protection are pro rated on the basis of the amount necessary and scaled down to within the limits of the appropriation authorized by Congress. The following table shows the allotments for the fiscal year 1924: State Area needing protec- tion (M) acres Esti- mated cost per acre Total cost Seven per cent. Reduced to Maxi- mum 50-50 (Allot- ment) Maine New Hampshire 15,000 4.300 3,750 3,000 250 1,500 14,000 i, 800 13,000 2,200 14,000 6,000 19,500 9,000 12,000 11,000 1,150 15,000 14,000 20,000 I,2OO 50 4,900 3,750 1,100 12,000 12,000 13,000 $ .028 .028 .Ol6 .04 •035 •03 .028 .04 •03 .025 .025 •025 .025 .025 .025 .02 = .02 •03 •03 .035 .OI •03 .04 .08 •03 -03 •03 .025 $420,000 120,400 60,000 120,000 8,750 45,ooo 392,000 72,000 390,000 55,000 350,000 150,000 487,500 202,500 300,000 275,000 23,000 450,000 420,000 700,000 n,45o 1,500 196,000 300,000 33,000 360,000 360,000 325,000 $29,400 8,428 4,20O 8,400 613 3,150 27,440 5,040 27,300 3,850 24,500 10,500 34,125 I4,J75 2 1 ,OOO 19,250 1,610 3L500 29,400 49,000 800 105 13,720 2 1 ,000 2,310 25,200 25,200 22,750 $21,500 8,428 4,200 8,400 613 3,150 21,500 5,040 21,500 3,850 21,500 10,500 21,500 14,175 21,000 19,250 1,610 21,500 21,500 21,500 800 105 13,720 19,190 2,310 21,500 21,500 21,500 $21,500 8,425 4,200 8,400 625 3,150 21,500 5,050 21,500 3,850 19,350 10,500 21,500 11,700 21,000 18,000 1, 600 21,500 15,000 21,500 800 IOO 13,725 19,200 2,300 21,500 21,500 21,500 Vermont Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Maryland Virginia West Virginia North Carolina Tennessee Louisiana Texas Ohio Michigan Wisconsin Minnesota New Mexico South Dakota . Montana Idaho, North Idaho, South Washington Oregon California Totals 228,450 ... >6,628,ioo $463,966 $372,841 $360,475 Administration 27,570 Balance available for allotment to new States and for emergencies 1 1 ,955 Total Appropriation $400,000 FOREST SERVICE OFFICIALS 25 FOREST SERVICE OFFICIALS The following is a list of principal departmental and district officials of the United States Forest Service: Washington William B. Greeley, Forester. Edward. A. Sherman, Associate Forester. H. I. Loving, Chief, Finance and Accounts. Roy Headley, Assistant Forester, Branch of Operation. E. E. Carter, Assistant Forester, Branch of Forest Management. Will C. Barnes, Assistant Forester, Branch of Grazing. L. F. Kneipp, Assistant Forester, Branch of Lands. Earle H. Clapp, Assistant Forester, Branch of Research. T. W. Norcross, Chief Engineer, Branch of Engineering. Herbert A. Smith, Assistant Forester, Branch of Public Relations. In the Field Fred Morrell, District Forester, (i) Missoula, Montana. Allen S. Peck, District Forester, (2) Denver, Colorado. Frank C. W. Pooler, District Forester, (3) Albuquerque, New Mexico. R. H. Rutledge, District Forester, (4) Ogden, Utah. Paul G. Redington, District Forester, (5) San Francisco, California. George H. Cecil, District Forester, (6) Portland, Oregon. F. W. Reed, District Forester, (7) Washington, D. C. Charles H. Flory, District Forester, (8) Juneau, Alaska. E. H. Frothingham, Director, Appalachian Forest Experiment Sta- tion, Asheville, N. C. G. A. Pearson, Sylviculturist, Fort Valley Forest Experiment Station, Flagstaff, Arizona. C. G. Bates, Sylviculturist, Fremont Forest Experiment Station, Col- orado Springs, Colorado. Raphael Zon, Director, Lake States Forest Experiment Station, Uni- versity Farm, St. Paul, Minnesota, also Cloquet Forest Experi- ment Station. Samuel T. Dana, Director, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Amherst, Massachusetts. 26 FORESTRY ALMANAC R. H. Weidman, Sylviculturist, Priest River Forest Experiment Sta- tion, Missoula, Montana. R. D. Forbes, Director, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, Louisiana. Julius V. Hoffman, Sylviculturist, Wind River Forest Experiment Station, Stabler, Washington. Walter M. Weld, Observer, Wagon Wheel Gap Station, Wagon Wheel Gap, Colorado. (In cooperation with Weather Bureau.) Carlile P. Winslow, Director, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Causes of Forest Fires in the United States,1 1921, Contrasted with Six-year Average, 1916-1921. Causes of fires. All causes. Lum- bering. Light- ning. Incen- diary. Brush burn- ing. Camp- ers. Rail- roads. Miscel- lane- ous. Un- known. Number of fires: 1921 38,435 1,826 2,188 5,336 4,358 7,638 5,515 2,804 8,770 1916-1921 (average) . 33,Si6 1,973 3,006 4,253 4,431 4,696 4,987 2,092 8,078 Per cent, of fires arising from each cause: 1921 IOO.O 4.8 5-7 13-9 11.3 19.9 14-3 7-3 22.8 1916-1921 (average). IOO.O 5-9 9.0 12.7 13.2 14.0 14.9 6.2 24.1 Continental area, excluding Alaska. NATIONAL FORESTRY LEGISLATION 27 NATIONAL FORESTRY LEGISLATION The year 1926 will mark the close of a half century during which the forest policy of the United States has been in process of devel- opment. While there were occasional and ineffectual attempts on the part of the National Government to encourage forest conser- vation and growth, usually for purposes of national defense, during the early days of the Republic, the year 1876 saw the first definite action. In that year Congress appropriated $2000 for the employment of a competent man to investigate the timber conditions of the country, getting the appropriation through as a rider to a bill for the distribution of seed. This piece of legislation created the office of agent with investi- gatory and informational duties. Dr. Franklin B. Hough was ap- pointed to this office, serving until 1883, when he was succeeded by N. H. Eggleston. Funds were provided annually by Congress, but only to the extent that the office might give data of general and restricted character. This first decade of national recognition of the forest problem was closed with the creation of the Division of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture by an act of June 30, 1886. For several years the work of the division was held down to informational activity by small appropriations. By an act of March 3, 1891, how- ever, the President was authorized to establish Forest Reserves, and on March 30,1891, the Yellowstone Park Timberland Reserve was proclaimed by President Harrison. Six years later, on June 4, 1897, the present National Forest Act was passed, providing for the acquisition and administration of these areas under a workable law. The chief activity during the next few years was the development of the forestry work of the government. It was expanded in scope and importance as a reflection of the growing national sentiment. On July i, 1901, the Division of Forestry became the Bureau of Forestry, and on February I, 1905, it took its present name of the Forest Service. The passage of the Weeks Law on March i, 1911, was perhaps the first piece of national legislation enunciating a basis of forest policy. It provided for the acquisition of National Forest areas in the East, creating the National Forest Reservation Commission 28 FORESTRY ALMANAC charged with the purchase of such areas on the headwaters of navigable streams. The measure also provided for cooperative fire protection with the states carrying on protective work. The years succeeding were not marked by any significant legis- lation. It was primarily a period of fluctuating appropriations, affected first by the European War and then by America's partici- pation in the war. At the same time it was a period of mobilizing public sentiment on the forestry question and of development in the fields of technical forestry. This process has resulted in signalizing the years 1921 to 1924 by the concerted demand for national legislation setting forth a national forest policy. This demand was embodied in the Snell Bill, introduced in Congress on April n, 1921; the Capper Bill, intro- duced May 2, 1921, and the McNary-Clarke Bill, introduced as a result of the extended hearings of the special Reforestation Committee of the Senate on December 25, 1923. The Snell and Capper Bills represent two different schools of thought in relation to the forest policy, and there was a measure of disagreement among foresters as to the merits of the Snell Bill. This measure involved the principle of federal cooperation with the states in forestry work. It provided $1,000,000 for cooper- ative fire protection; $3,000,000 for a cooperative survey of forest resources and their adaptability to conditions ; $1,000,000 for research and experimentation; $1,000,000 for nursery and reforestation work in the National Forests ; $50,000,000 to be available for carrying out the provisions of the Weeks Law. It also contemplated extension of the authority of the National Forest Reservation Commission to include acquisition of land chiefly valuable for forest production, pro- vided for the exchanges of land for National Forests and extended the possibilities of bringing publicly-owned areas supporting timber under the Forest Service administration. The Snell Bill was argued before Congress in 1921 and 1922 but failed of passage in any of its essential features. The support of the Capper Bill, still pending before Congress, is led by Gifford Pinchot, former Chief Forester of the United States and Governor of Pennsylvania. This measure embodies the principles of regulation of cutting on all public and private forests. It would apply to the United States methods of administration similar to those NATIONAL FORESTRY LEGISLATION 29 employed in France and Germany. The question raised in connec- tion with this measure is not one of theoretical fallacy but of the practicability of its application in the United States. The Capper Bill would divide the United States into forest regions; it would have harvesting regulations; it would have these administered over all private and public forest lands by regional foresters ; it would provide a check upon the lumbering methods and accounts of those cutting forests ; it would provide for the payment of a tax of five cents per thousand board feet on all timber cut according to standard and regulations and $5 per thousand on all timber not so cut, with penalties for evasion. The Sixty-Seventh Congress at its fourth session passed a resolu- tion creating a Select Committee on Reforestation of the Senate to investigate problems relating to reforestation. Out of the hearings of this committee the McNary-Clarke Bill (discussed in detail below) was evolved, embodying the ideas of the Snell Bill in part and receiv- ing a virtually united support among foresters and forest interests. National Legislation in Brief 1876 — $2000 appropriated to employ a competent man to investigate timber conditions in the United States. June 30, 1886 — Act creating Division of Forestry in Department of Agriculture. March 3, 1891 — President authorized to establish Forest Reserves. Yellowstone Park Timberland Reserve proclaimed by President Harrison on March 30, 1891. June 4, 1897 — Present National Forest Act passed. July i, 1901 — Division of Forestry becomes Bureau of Forestry. February I, 1905 — Bureau of Forestry becomes Forest Service. March I, 1911 — Weeks Law passed. April n, 1921 — Snell Bill introduced in Congress. May 2, 1921 — Capper Bill introduced in Congress. December 15, 1923 — McNary-Clarke Bill introduced in Congress. April 23, 1924 — McNary-Clarke Bill passed House. June 6, 1924 — McNary-Clarke Bill passed Senate. 30 FORESTRY ALMANAC HOW TO PLANT TREES In planting a tree the first consideration is the kind of soil in which the tree must grow, the climate and the species that will thrive. Thought must be given to the location of the tree, the space it will have in which to develop and the variety that grows best in the vicinity. It is well, also, to consider whether it is not better to plant trees of long life, such as the oak or sycamore, instead of trees like the silver maple or poplar that mature after a short span of life. Whatever the choice of the tree, it is deserving of careful thought. It may be that in nearby wooded sections there are many young trees, saplings or evergreens. This, of course, makes an easy source of supply, with the advantage of obtaining trees that live well in the vicinity. Experience shows, on the other hand, that it is often more satisfactory to buy nursery trees especially raised for transplanting. As a piece of general advice it might be said that evergreens of five feet in height and deciduous trees up to 12 feet, raised in a nursery, will give the best results. Once the problem of selecting the proper trees has been solved, there come the details of preparing for planting. Care must be taken of the tree. The roots must not be bruised, or allowed to dry, and moist earth should be kept around them until just before they are put in the ground. This is extremely important, because a few moments of ill-advised exposure of the roots to the sun, wind or dry air will injure the future of the tree. Unless the delivery man has more than the average affection for a tree, it is likely to arrive with some broken or bruised roots. These should be pruned, and at the same time the top of the trees can be shaped up. The pruning should be done cleanly with a sharp pruner. There are supporters of both spring and fall as the time for planting deciduous trees. Both have good arguments. If one were to lay down a general rule, however, it would be safe to say that all trees except evergreens can be planted at any time during the period between their going to sleep in the fall and awakening in the spring, and when the ground is not frozen. In the northern states the early spring is the best time for the inexperienced planter. Evergreens can be put into the ground in the late spring and during the latter part of August and the first of September. HOW TO PLANT TREES 31 A cool and cloudy day is the best for planting. In preparing the hole for the tree it should be made large enough to hold the roots extended normally. It should be deep enough for a six-inch layer of good loam before the roots are put in. The soil should be carefully worked around the roots with a pointed stick. No air spaces should be left, and it is well to soak the soil around the roots so that the tree will stand firmly. Most trees should be planted two or three inches lower than in the nursery. There can be no fixed rules for spacing trees. Along streets they will range from 30 to 80 feet apart, depending upon the variety used. Except along highways, it is best to plant trees fairly near together, and the ones that crowd can be cut out later. If the tree planter has not pruned his tree before he put it in the ground, it should be done immediately afterward. Frequently there is too little rather than too much pruning at the top. The tree top should balance the root system. Many tree planters find it best to remove all the side branches of the deciduous tree, leaving only the leader or main shoot. This leader should not be pruned back in the deciduous variety. There is no need of pruning the top of evergreens at the planting time, and except in the case of some varieties of cedar, it is undesirable. The work is not over when the tree is in the ground and the soil packed about it. Where there is likely to be strong wind the tree should have the support of a strong stake reaching up into the lower branches. Guards should be around some trees, particularly along the street. For the first two years the base soil will need cultivation. As the trees grow they will need pruning — a question of individual judgment governed by the shape of the tree. SELECTED LIST OF TREES Trees for Northeastern United States DECIDUOUS OR BROADLEAFED TREES Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) Cork Elm (Ulmus racemosa) Bitternut Hickory (Hicoria cordi- Tulip-tree (Yellow Poplar) (Lirio- formis) dendron tulipifera) Shagbark Hickory (Hicoria ovata) Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata) Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) White Oak (Quercus alba) Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Red Maple (Acer rubrum) Black Oak (Quercus velutina) Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) Red Oak (Quercus borealis maxima) White Ash (Fraxinus americana) Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica American Elm (Ulmus americana) lanceolata) CONIFEROUS OR EVERGREEN TREES White Pine (Pinus strobus) Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) White Spruce (Picea glauca) Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Red Spruce (Picea rubra) Trees for Southeastern United States DECIDUOUS OR BROADLEAFED TREES Pecan (Hicoria pecan) Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) Mockernut Hickory (Hicoria alba) Winged Elm (Ulmus alata) River Birch (Betula nigra) Evergreen Magnolia (Magnolia gran- Water Oak (Quercus nigra) diflora) Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) American Holly (Ilex opaca) Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia) Tupelo Gum (Nyssa aquatica) Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata) Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto) Southern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) CONIFEROUS OR EVERGREEN TREES Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) Carolina Hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) Spruce Pine (Pinus glabra) Southern Red Cedar (Juniperus Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) lucayana) Slash Pine (Pinus caribaea) 32 SELECTED LIST OF TREES 33 Trees for the Prairie States DECIDUOUS OR BROADLEAFED TREES Black Walnut (Jublans nigra) Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) Box Elder (Acer negundo) Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) lanceolata) American Elm (Ulmus americana) Hardy Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) CONIFEROUS OR EVERGREEN TREES White Pine (Pinus strobus) White Fir (Rocky Mountain form.— Western Yellow Pine (Pinus ponder- Abies concolor) osa) Arborvitae (Thuya occidentalis) Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) Red Cedar (Platte River, Nebr. form. Western White Spruce (Black Hills, — Juniperus virginiana) S. D. form.— Picea glauca alberti- Rocky Mountain Red Cedar (Juni- ana) perus scopulorum) Douglas Fir (Rocky Mountain form. — Pseudotsuga taxifolia) Trees for Northern Rocky Mountain States DECIDUOUS OR BROADLEAFED TREES Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Narrowleaf Cottonwood (Populus lanceolata) angustifolia) American Elm (Ulmus americana) Box Elder (Acer negundo) CONIFEROUS OR EVERGREEN TREES Western White Pine (Pinus monticola) Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) Western Yellow Pine (Pinus Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) ponderosa) Western Red Cedar (Giant Arbor- Western Larch (Larix occidentalis) vitae (Thuya plicata) Engelmann Spruce (Picea engel- mannii) Trees for Southern Rocky Mountain States DECIDUOUS OR BROADLEAFED TREES (Points below approximately 1500 feet elevation) Black or Yellow Locust (Robinia Osage Orange (Toxylon pomiferum) pseudoacacia) Huisache (Acacia farnesiana) Pepper Tree (Schinus molle) Cat's Claw (Acacia greggii) Cottonwopds (Populus macdougallii, Ratema or Horse Bean (Parkinsonia P. wislizenii. aculeata) Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia) China Tree (Melia azedarach) Hackberry (Celtis reticulata, C. mis- Giant Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) sissippiensis) Joshua-tree (Yucca brevifolia) 34 FORESTRY ALMANAC (Points above approximately 2500 feet elevation) Mexican Walnut (Juglans rupestris) Mexican or Willowleaf Cherry Narrowleafed Cotton wood (Populus (Prunus sal ici folia) angusti folia) Black or Yellow Locust (Robinia Wislizenus Cottonwood (Populus wis- pseudoacacia) lizenii) Large-tooth Maple (Acer grandi- Blue Oak (Quercus oblongifolia) dentatum) Arizona White Oak (Quercus ari- Box Elder (Acer negundo) zonica) Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Emory Oak (Quercus emoryi) lanceolata) Arizona Sycamore (Platanus Southwestern Ash (Fraxinus wrightii) velutina) CONIFEROUS OR EVERGREEN TREES (Points below approximately 1500 feet elevation) Himalayan Pine (Pinus excel sa) Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macro- Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) carpa) Digger Pine (Pinus sabiniana) Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) (Points above approximately 2,500 feet elevation) Western Yellow Pine (Pinus pon- Mountain or Rock Cedar (Juniperus derosa) mexicana) Mexican White Pine (Pinus strobi- Arizona Cypress (Cupressus ari- formis) zonica) Smooth Cypress (Cupressus glabra) Trees for North-Pacific States DECIDUOUS OR BROADLEAFED TREES Black Cottonwood (Populus tricho- Broadleafed Maple (Acer macro- carpa) phyllum) Golden Chinquapin (Castanopsis chry- Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) sophylla) Madrona (Arbutus menziesii) Oregon Oak (Quercus garryana) Oregon Ash (Fraxinus oregona) Cork Elm (Ulmus racemosa) CONIFEROUS OR EVERGREEN TREES Western White Pine (Pinus 'monti- Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga taxi folia) cola) Grand Fir (Abies grandis) Western Yellow Pine (Pinus ponder- Noble Fir (Abies nobilis) osa) Western Red Cedar (Giant Arbor- Western Larch (Larix occidentalis) vitae (Thuya plicata) Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Lawson Cypress (Chamaecyparis law- Western Hemlock (Tsuga hetero- soniana) phylla) Western Yew (Taxus brevi folia) SELECTED LIST OF TREES 35 Trees for California DECIDUOUS OR BROADLEAFED TREES (Points below approximately 1500 feet elevation) Washington Palm (Washingtonia California Blue Oak (Quercus fili f era) douglasii) California Walnut (Juglans cali- California Live Oak (Quercus agri- fornica) folia) English Walnut (Juglans regia) Wislizenus Oak (Quercus wislizenii) Royal Walnut — hybrid ( California Sycamore (Platanus Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fre- racemosa) montii) California Box Elder (Acer negundo Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) calif ornicum) (Points above approximately 1500 feet elevation) Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) Madrona (Arbutus menziesii) California Black Oak (Quercus cali- California Laurel (Umbellularia cali- fornica) fornica) Tanbark Oak (Quercus densiflora) California Dogwood (Cornus nut- Maul or Canyon Live Oak (Quercus tallii) chrysolepis) Oregon Ash (Fraxinus oregona) CONIFEROUS OR EVERGREEN TREES (Points below approximately 1500 feet elevation) Tprrey Pine (Pinus torreyana) Digger Pine (Pinus sabiniana) Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata) Bristlecone Fir (Abies venusta) Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macro- Canary Island Pine (Pinus canar- carpa) iensis) Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Thili Pine (Araucaria imbricata) California Juniper (Juniperus cali- Himalayan Pine (Pinus excelsa) fornica) (Points above approximately 2,000 feet elevation) Digger Pine (Pinus sabiniana) Douglas Fir (Pacific form.— Pseudo- Western Yellow Pine (Pinus ponder- tsuga taxifolia) osa) Bigtree (Sequoia washingtoniana) Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri) Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macro- Digger Pine (Pinus sabiniana) carpa) 36 FORESTRY ALMANAC TREE-LINED HIGHWAYS Trees lining the highways — making cool, green-shaded boule- vards— while they do not on the surface add to the forest assets of the country, plant in the minds of the people an appreciation of trees. With the rapid increase in automobile ownership and the extension of motor highways throughout the United States, roadside tree planting and conservation has become an essential part of this development. Civic and patriotic organizations, property owners and many types of associations as well as governmental agencies, are taking an active part in this work. So widespread is the extent of this activity that it is difficult of tabulation and summary. The Harding Memorial Highway, the Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway and sections of the great Lincoln Highway are instances of roadside tree planting by various public groups, taking this means of creating durable and beautiful memorials. A number of the states have embarked upon extensive programs of highway beautification, and some of them exercise control over the planting conducted by private groups along the highways. Massachusetts has planted more than 50,000 trees along her high- ways recently. The State was aroused early in 1924 by the prospect of withdrawal of funds for the upkeep of the hundreds of thousands of trees already lining her highways, with the result that the funds were not only forthcoming but were increased. The State of Washington has inaugurated a program contemplating the setting out of some two million trees. Pennsylvania and Michigan have large programs, and New Jersey communities have shade tree commissions carrying on this work. There is a growing appreciation of the need of certain regulation of artificial roadside tree planting. General rules are being worked out to govern the extent of the planting by the width of the right of way ; to prevent the obscuring of intersections ; to give beauty by natural groupings of trees instead of monotony by even spacing; to make planting on curves safe and otherwise to direct this impor- tant work. The following is a list of recognized highways on which projects for roadside tree planting are contemplated or are under way, or which offer opportunity for beautiful highway development : TREE-LINED HIGHWAYS 37 National BANKHEAD HIGHWAY, Washington, D. C., to San Diego, California. DIXIE HIGHWAY, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Miami, Florida. DIXIE-OVERLAND, Savannah, Georgia, to San Diego, California. EVERGREEN NATIONAL HIGHWAY, Victoria, B. C., to El Paso, Texas. GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL HIGHWAY, Seattle, Wash., to Savannah, Ga. INTERNATIONAL PEACE HIGHWAY, Quebec and Rouses Point, N. Y., to Laredo, Texas, and Mexico City, Mexico. JACKSON HIGHWAY, Chicago, 111., to New Orleans, La. JEFFERSON HIGHWAY, Winnipeg, Canada, to New Orleans, La. KING OF TRAILS, Winnipeg, Canada, to Galveston, Texas. LAKES TO GULF HIGHWAY, Duluth, Minn., to Galveston, Texas. LEE HIGHWAY, Washington, D. C., to San Diego, Cal. LINCOLN HIGHWAY, New York to San Francisco. LONE STAR ROUTE, Chicago, 111., to Brownsville, Texas. MERIDIAN HIGHWAY, Winnipeg, Canada, to Laredo, Texas. MISSISSIPPI RIVER SCENIC HIGHWAY SYSTEM, Duluth, Minn., to New Orleans, La. NATIONAL OLD TRAILS ROAD, Washington, D. C., to Los Angeles, Cal. OLD SPANISH TRAIL, St. Augustine, Fla., to San Diego, Cal. PACIFIC HIGHWAY, Vancouver, B. C., to San Diego, Cal. PERSHING WAY, Winnipeg, Canada, to New Orleans, La. PIKE'S PEAK OCEAN TO OCEAN HIGHWAY, New York, to San Francisco. ROOSEVELT NATIONAL HIGHWAY, Oyster Bay, N. Y., to Los Angeles, Cal. THEODORE ROOSEVELT INTERNATIONAL HIGHWAY, Portland, Me., to Portland, Oregon. VICTORY HIGHWAY, New York to San Francisco. YELLOWSTONE TRAIL, Plymouth, Mass., to Seattle, Washington. Interstate ALBERT PIKE HIGHWAY, Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Colorado Springs, Colorado. ARROWHEAD TRAIL, Los Angeles, California, to Salt Lake City, Utah. BEN HUR HIGHWAY, St. Louis, Missouri, to Fort Dodge, Iowa. BLACKHAWK HIGHWAY, Beloit, Wisconsin, to Dixon, Illinois. CAPITAL ROUTE, Omaha, Nebraska, to Austin, Texas. CHICAGO, KANSAS CITY AND GULF HIGHWAY, Chicago, Illinois, to Galveston, Texas. CORNHUSKER HIGHWAY, Sioux City, Iowa, to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. CUSTER BATTLEFIELD HIGHWAY, Omaha, Nebraska, to Glacier National Park, Montana. DALLAS-CANADIAN-DENVER HIGHWAY, Galveston, Texas, to Boulder, Colorado. DETROIT-LINCOLN-DENVER HIGHWAY, Detroit to Denver. GEYSERS-TO-GLACIERS HIGHWAY, Yellowstone, to Glacier Parks. LACKAWANNA TRAIL, Delaware, N. J., to Binghamton, N. Y. LEWIS AND CLARK HIGHWAY, Lewiston, Idaho, to Missoula, Montana. LoGAN-LEE HIGHWAY, Rock Island, Illinois, to Paducah, Kentucky. NATIONAL MIDLAND TRAIL, Eastern Division, East St. Louis, 111., to Washing- ton, D. C. NATIONAL PARK To PARK HIGHWAY, Circuit of National Parks. 38 FORESTRY ALMANAC OZARK TRAILS, Kansas City, Hannibal, St. Louis and Memphis to Denver, Las Vegas and El Paso. RIVER TO RIVER ROAD, Davenport, Iowa, to Omaha, Nebraska. SOUTH WEST TRAIL, Chicago, Illinois, to El Paso, Texas. WHITE RIVER TRAIL, Springfield, Mo., to Ponca City, Oklahoma. YELLOWSTONE HIGHWAY, Denver, Colorado, to Yellowstone, National Park. THE BOY SCOUTS AND FORESTRY One of the most important means of assuring a continued senti- ment in support of the forestry movement is the mobilization of the young people, and perhaps the most consistently active organization in this direction is the Boy Scouts of America. With woodcraft and forestry, and other outdoor achievements of knowledge, a part of the Scout's study for which he receives merit badges, this organization of young Americans has already accomplished a great deal. In several states, the forestry and conservation officials call freely upon the Boy Scouts for assistance. The Conservation Commissioner of Massachusetts has declared that he will grant to any troop a per- mit to make camp in a State Forest, knowing that the camp will be left in good order and no unquenched fire will be left to burn the forest. The Scouts have, in fact, made a name for themselves in forest fire fighting, particularly during the war when they were recruited to patrol the trails in the National Forests, replacing the men who had gone to war. On one occasion they located many black walnut trees needed by the Government for airplane construction. In many States the Boy Scouts are organized under the State Fire Warden as forest guides, having official recognition from the State. In New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania, for example, it is not uncommon to see a diminutive Scout directing a gang of husky amateur fire fighters. The Scouts have cut many miles of trail, making fire fighting easier. Living as much as they can in the forest, they study the kinds of trees, the diseases that affect them, and acquire both an acquaintance and affection for them. They wear their merit badge for efficiency and knowledge in the branch of forestry with great pride, and they constitute an important potential force in carry- ing a comprehensive national forest policy to its conclusion. THE FARMER AND HIS WOODLOT 39 THE FARMER AND HIS WOODLOT Of the 469,000,000 acres of forested and denuded forest land in the United States, approximately 150,000,000 acres are in farm woodlots. This proportion of nearly one-third of the actual and potential forest area in the hands of farmers shows the vital necessity of these areas being managed so as to return the maximum to the owner and to contribute as largely as possible to the solution of the problem of future timber supply. Because of his permanency and his interest in the land, the farmer should be in the forefront of timber growers. In the wood- producing acres of his farm, or the acres that are more fitted for trees than crops, he has a profitable asset. They can or should supply his own demands for timber as well as some of the local demand. They do or should constitute a profitable adjunct to his agri- cultural efforts. The average farmer is not a forester. He does not need to be. But to get the maximum return from his woodlot he must know cer- tain fundamentals of forestry; what trees to cut, what trees to grow, how to govern his cutting, what care and protection is necessary and other details. He needs advice concerning the management of his farm forest in order that it may be a source of continuing profit and supply. Providing the farmer with this advice is a practically new phase of forestry work. It has been done in a more or less desultory fashion for perhaps fifteen years. Within the last two years, how- ever, it has been taking definite form and is now in a state of de- velopment and change. With varying degrees of intensiveness, education of landowners in timber growing is being carried on by State Departments and universities in 32 states. To a limited extent it is being aided by the farm extension service of the United States Department of Agriculture and by the Forest Service. Covering 10 of the northeastern states a national forest extension committee has been organized to further this work as an extension service of the different agricultural colleges. This activity enlists the services of expert foresters, whose service is largely educational showing the farmer how to value his woodlot, how to sustain it and how to market its products. 4 40 FORESTRY ALMANAC In several states, particularly Ohio and Iowa, encouragement of farm woodlot production is the chief forestry problem. The forestry agencies direct particular attention to this phase of the work, issuing bulletins, giving advice as consultants, making farm woodlot demonstrations and otherwise assisting the farmer. States maintaining state nurseries with a surplus of seedlings are in a position to help the farmer reforest denuded areas on his farm. This work, however, is still in the process of development. The details of cooperation between foresters and the already constituted agricultural extension agencies have still largely to be worked out. The Forest Service is studying this activity, and already an impor- tant start has been made to bring the farm woodlot into the important position it should hold with relation to the forest problem. TREES WITH FAMOUS NAMES Although many millions of trees people the forests of the United States doing their economic duty, a few have been singled out by history to play famous parts and to stand as individual memorials to great events in the life of America. Symbolizing, fully as well as a tablet or pillar could do, some significant achievement, these trees represent the peculiar fitness of trees as memorials, and it is specially appropriate that they should have a Hall of Fame of their own. Some distinguished trees stand out by reason of their age, such as the General Sherman Sequoia in the Sequoia National Park of Cali- fornia, whose age is reckoned at 40 centuries, and whose diameter is 36^2 feet and towering height 280 feet. Many of the redwoods and sequoias are nearly equally as venerable as this one representative. When Charles Sumner was Senator from Massachusetts he sent an acorn from a tree near the tomb of Washington at Mount Vernon to the Czar of Russia. This acorn grew to an oak in the palace grounds at Petrograd, and in turn produced an acorn that was planted in the White House grounds in Washington in 1904. In Washington there are to be found other famous trees, including the Treaty Oak under whose branches an important treaty was signed with the Indians. While the Washington Elm in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the General was supposed to have taken over command of the Colonial Army, is no more, a tablet marks the spot where it stood so long to AMERICAN LEGION AND FORESTRY 41 commemorate the event. On the campus of the University of Rochester in New York is the Shakespeare Memorial Oak, grown from a young tree from Stratford-on-Avon. In North Carolina is the Battleground Oak which viewed the battle of Guilf ord Courthouse. To attempt to enumerate all of the famous trees would be impos- sible. They stand, however, as sentinels in the history of the new country, sturdily typifying the courage, genius and leadership on which and by which it was founded. They entitle all trees to the first consideration as man's memorials. AMERICAN LEGION AND FORESTRY The American Legion since its inception has been active in the planting of trees and the conservation of American forests. This activity has been manifest in many ways, from the actual planting of a 5ooo-acre forest in Herkimer County, New York, to the planting of memorial trees with individual markers for men who gave their lives in the military service during the World War. Legion conventions have repeatedly advocated the conservation of our national natural resources. At the Third National Convention, held in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1921, a resolution was passed which went on record " as favoring the memorialization of public highways, streets and parks, particularly by tree planting and the erection of tablets." The Fifth National Convention, held in San Francisco, California, in 1923, declared, " We recommend a continuation of the air patrol of the great forest districts. This work not only tests machines and personnel but it pays excellent dividends in the way of timber saved from destruction from fires. It is one of the few direct ways the military can pay part of its own way." Another resolution unanimously adopted at San Francisco said: " Whereas, the redwoods belong to the nation, and whereas the match- less redwood forests of Humboldt County, California, are, in our opinion an asset of incalculable value to the nation; and whereas the citizens of Humboldt County have been foresighted enough to lead the fight against their destruction, be it resolved that we, the American Legion, do hereby urge that the people of the United States support the program for saving these monarchs of the forest and pledge their support to this end." 42 FORESTRY ALMANAC The Legion early saw the advantage of planting trees as memorials. The American Legion Memorial Forest of Herkimer County was started in 1921 and is now almost completely planted. In Newport News, Virginia, members of the Legion took up tree-planting as their part of a " city beautiful " campaign, and persuaded hundreds of householders to plant shade trees on their property. Almost a house- to-house campaign was conducted in behalf of this project. Legion- naires of Minneapolis have planted more than 1000 high-arched elms four abreast, two on either side of parallel paved boulevards compos- ing the Victory Memorial Driveway. An example of the keen interest of Legionnaires in such a project is offered in the fact that a post of less than 100 members in Sigourney, Iowa, bought a 3O-acre plot, laid it out as a public park, and attended to tree-planting on it. These few men paid $4500 into the project. There are 11,000 posts of the American Legion, and the best available figures at national headquarters show that fully 2500 of the posts have taken active part in community planting or conservation. Where trees are planted as individual memorials, each is equipped with a small metal tablet giving the name, age and military organization of the veteran so memorialized. Arbor Day generally is accepted by members of the Legion as the occasion for the planting of memorial trees. Where the trees are planted for shade along some municipal road, or in a group as a memorial grove, provision is made for their proper care until they have assumed substantial proportions. TREE SEEDS SENT OVERSEAS " Trees growing from the seeds offered by America will perpetu- ate in the French forests the remembrance of the brotherhood-in-arms of America and France. These saplings will be given a place in the forests of the devastated regions where they will recall the assistance tendered by America to France during the war and during the work of repairing her ruins." In these words M. Jacques Carrier, Director-General of Waters and Forests in France, expresses his appreciation to Charles Lathrop Pack, president of the American Tree Association, who has per- sonally, and in the name of the Association, donated annually millions TREE SEEDS SENT OVERSEAS 43 of tree seeds to France, England and other European countries, following up the precedent established in 1920 by the American Forestry Association, when he was president of that organization. The seeds sent to France are shipped to arrive in February so that they may be put immediately into nurseries. They have been divided among the nurseries established in the devastated regions, although the largest quantity has been sent to the Forestry School and Arboretum at Les Barres in Loiret. Here has been collected one of the most complete collections of trees and shrubs in the world, and in connection with the school research is carried on and a large nursery maintained. Both Andre Cheron, Minister of Agriculture, and M. L. Parde, director of the Barres School, have reported important results. Douglas Fir seeds have been the predominating species sent, proving themselves highly adaptable. M. Parde also reports that much valuable information has been obtained from plantations made with seeds of the Sitka spruce, eastern larch and white ash. In a letter written in February, 1924, Director-General Carrier acknowledges the receipt of the latest shipment as a valuable gift " to contribute to the reforestation of the territories devastated by the war or impoverished by the exploitation to satisfy the needs of the Army." He adds : " Thanks to your generous activity, this species so interesting from all points of view and too little represented in France up to now, will grow in the most barren corners and in a few decades tall trees, with ornamental foliage, will recall to the gener- ations to come the cordial aid that you have given us." In England there is being carried forward a program of intensive reforestation under the Forestry Commission headed by Major-Gen- eral Lord Lovat. One hundred and fifty thousand acres are being reforested by direct State action and 100,000 more acres by State assistance to private owners and local authorities. In this work the gift of American Tree Association seeds has been of considerable aid. Lord Lovat, during a recent visit to North America to attend the British Empire Forestry Conference, reported that the seeds have reached literally all corners of the British Isles. The Douglas Fir did particularly well in Ireland. The 1921 seeds prospered when planted in the Scotch Highlands at nurseries of South Laggan among the Grampian Mountains. The 1922 seeds were divided 44 FORESTRY ALMANAC between the Royal English and Royal Scottish Arboricultural Societies on conditions that two to four pounds be given to members for use. Some seeds were sent to northern and southern Ireland and others have been planted in the Windsor Nurseries of the Forestry Commission. Similar disposition has been made of the 1923 and 1924 shipments. Seeds have also been sent to be used in Italy, Czechoslovakia, Belgium and Austria. These were largely for experimental pur- poses, although considerable planting was done in Belgium. CITY AND TOWN FORESTS Of all of the phases of the forestry movement there is one which has received proportionally small notice but which is, nevertheless, of great potential importance in working out the whole broad problem of recreating our forest resources. This phase is the city and town forests, the village woodlot, or, as it is known in Europe, the com- munal forest. Although no complete survey of city and town forests has ever been made, it is safe to say that there are at least 500,000 forested acres owned by these political units. New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Connecticut are the six most active states in this direction, although the movement is spreading rapidly in other states. The municipal or town forest may serve one or more purposes. It may be created to protect the local water supply and watersheds. It may be established as a community windbreak. It may be employed to put to work lands owned by the community or reverted to it for non-payment of taxes. It may be set aside primarily as a local timber supply, providing easily accessible and cheaper wood and assuring a certain amount of assistance in a period of unemployment. Instances are frequently cited of the success of the community forest in various places in Europe. One forest is found in Forbach in the Black Forest of Germany, virtually relieving the community of taxes before the war. Other similar forests are found in France, Germany and Switzerland, managed for a sustained yield, cut selec- tively and constituting a valuable local asset. Such a program to succeed in the United States would require a very general adoption by cities and towns, rolling up such a volume of CITY AND TOWN FORESTS 45 wooded resources as to meet an appreciable proportion of the local demand. It goes hand in hand with the farmer's development of his woodlot and state acquisition of forest areas. It fits into the whole scheme but is by no means a solution of itself. The City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, claims the distinction of having officially set aside the first community forest in the United States. The laws of the State authorize such action on the part of communities, and Fitchburg took the initiative in 1914, doing so with the threefold purpose of providing demonstration of practical forestry, of getting profit from the sale and use of forest products and resources and of furnishing a site for public recreation. In 1921, 100,000 feet of pine suitable for box boards were cut from the comparatively small tract, netting the city a profit of $417.09. Other Massachusetts communities — including Petersham which forested its poor farm ; Walpole, which enlisted the aid of the schools ; Brookline, which manages its watershed along practical forestry lines — have taken action. The Massachusetts Forestry Association has made an offer to plant 5000 trees, or five acres, for any town or city legally establishing a local forest of 100 acres or more. About 100 communities have considered or are considering such action. Rapidly increasing its distribution of nursery seedings, the State of New York has encouraged the creation of local forests. Nearly 200,000 acres are believed to be now so set aside in the State. Rochester, Glens Falls, Gloversville and the City of New York are among the 40 or more communities with home forests. Cincinnati and Oberlin are among the five Ohio communities with local forests. Seven cities or towns in Colorado boast community forests. In New Jersey more than 35,000 acres are so owned. This activity shows the gradual growth of the movement, which has progressed now to a point where the momentum of public senti- ment should carry it more rapidly forward. The following of a list prepared by the United States Forest Service and designed to show approximately the situation in the establishment of community forests : 46 FORESTRY ALMANAC State Area Number of communities Average area per community Acres Alabama 19,232 California 7,640 Colorado 29,630 Connecticut 14,322 District of Columbia 1*632 Idaho 160 Illinois 25,000 Kansas 200 Maine 803 Maryland 7,400 Massachusetts 46,160 Michigan 1,015 Minnesota 2,235 Nebraska 42 New Hampshire 8,056 New Jersey 36,100 New York 169,000 North Carolina 26,864 Ohio ii ,477 Oregon 4,800 Pennsylvania 18,733 Rhode Island 104 Texas 310 Utah 1,710 Vermont 1,845 Virginia 9, 700 Washington 1 1,964 Total 456,134 2 2 7 II I I I I 2 4 32 3 i i 22 7 4