DIVISION OF FORESTRY. 107 



eni>ineer in charge, Mr. H. B. Hedges, by whom they were made, have 

 been phiced at tlie disposal of this Division. A careful study of the 

 subordinate watersheds, which differ completely among themselves in 

 the character of their forest covering, was undertaken, and strong 

 hopes are entertained of valuable results from the comparison of the 

 run-off from various types of cover. 



A pi-eliminarj^ examination was made, followed by rough plans and 

 recommendations, in cooperation with the section of working plans, 

 for the drainage basin from which the city of Johnstown, Pa., obtains 

 its supply of water. To assist in preventing the possibility of a recur- 

 rence of the great disaster was one of the chief objects in view. 



EXPENDITURES. 



The expenditures for the section of economic tree planting during 

 the year were $5,756.07, or 11.8 per cent of the total appropriation. 



SECTION OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS. 

 STUDIES OF COMMERCIAL TREES. 



The work commenced last year upon the Redwood and Red Fir of 

 the Pacific coast was resumed before the end of the fiscal year, and a 

 study of the Western Hemlock was begun. Cooperation with the 

 Redwood lumbermen continued as before, and the field work was 

 made to include a thorough study of the possibilities of Redwood 

 second growth. A study of the Southern Longleaf Pine was begun and 

 one of the Adirondack Balsam Fir. The latter is particularly^ timely 

 because, with the decrease in the suppl}^ of Spruce, the Balsam is used 

 more and more largeh^ in the manufacture of paper. The data col- 

 lected in the field for Adirondack hardwoods has been worked up into 

 tables intended particularl}- to assist the private owner in managing 

 his hardwood lands. The studies of the Western Yellow Pine, the 

 Southern Loblolly Pine, the White Oak, the Yellow Poplar, and the 

 Black and Shellbark hickories w^ere continued or begun. 



FOREST FIRES. 



Studies of forest fires were made during the year in 26 States and 

 Territories, and valuable results were reached, especially in New 

 York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Montana, Arizona, 

 and California. Much material was awaiting editorial attention at 

 the end of the year. In the historical study, records of about 3,500 

 forest fires were added during the j^ear, and the cost of compilation 

 was decidedly reduced. 



STUDIES IX FOREST HISTORY. 



A histoiy of forestry in New York and a summary of the forest 

 laws now in force in the various States were completed and are await- 

 ing publication, and much material was gathered for the forest his- 

 tories of Pennsjdvania, Maine, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, 

 Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan; together with some material for 

 California and several of the Southern States. 



An investigation upon the reliability of the widespread views 

 regarding the effect of denudation upon the once forested lands bor- 

 dering the Mediterranean Sea was begun, and the conditions in Tunis, 

 Algeria, and Tripoli Avere studied. 



