226 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



April 



ing the season of 1908, be increased 

 from 30,000 to 36,000 head. 



This is the first year of administra- 

 tion on a large area which was added 

 to the forest, and the grazing allot- 

 ment has been increased to provide for 

 all of the stock which is entitled to be 

 grazed upon this range through regu- 

 lar use in the past. 



Government The work of cutting 

 Harvests ^^g basket willows to 



wfllows .supply slips for free 



distribution has just 

 been begun at the Government's ex- 

 perimental holt at Arlington, 

 just across the Potomac from this 

 city. These experiments in extensive 

 willow culture are carried on by the 

 United States Forest Service, which 

 distributes each year a great many 

 cuttings, together with special instruc- 

 tions for growing them, to applicants 

 in all parts of the country. 



This country's willow-ware indus- 

 try now has to depend on foreign 

 growers for a great part of its sup- 

 ply, but each year marks an increase 

 in the number of American holts. 

 Willow cultivation is sometimes more 



profitable than the growing of other 

 crops. 



The four varieties of approved bas- 

 ket willows propagated at Arlington 

 have made an excellent growth com- 

 pared with those of other holts 

 throughout Maryland and Pennsyl- 

 vania. The unfavorable weather in 

 the spring of 1907 greatly retarded 

 the growth of the young rods in most 

 localities, but the holt at Arlington is 

 so favorably situated that little or no 

 harm was done the willows there. On 

 the contrary, the American Green va- 

 riety has made a better growth in the 

 Government holt this year than in any 

 previous year. The rods are long, 

 straight and branchless. 



After the rods of each plat are cut 

 and carefully sorted into different 

 height classes, they are tied into bund- 

 les weighing from 40 to 50 pounds 

 and placed on their butt ends in a pit 

 containing water from 4 to 6 inches 

 deep. They remain in this position 

 until the sap rises and the rods put 

 forth new leaves. During the latter 

 part of April and early ]\Iay the bark 

 will be removed by ordinary hand 

 peeling. A large percentage of the 

 rods of all varieties have been selected 

 to make cuttings for free distribution. 



THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDY MAN 



Your Uncle Sam he says to me, "I want a man to ride, 

 To pack a boss, and shoot a few, and sleep outdoors beside;" 



So I signed with him as a ranger fsold. to ride the forests free, 

 But lands! j^ou ought to see the stunts your Uncle Sam gave me. 



It's law in the morning, science at night, 



Study all day, and figger and write; 

 He gets high-browed work on a bigh-browed plan. 



Does the Government's handy man. 



I've broke my jaw on science names fer every tree and bark; 



I've got to know fine points in law, jest like a Blackstone shark; 

 I've got to pick out min'ral land, same as a blamed M. E.; 



And this here ranger job ain't jest what it's cracked up to be. 



It's readin' the Use Book early and late, 

 Rules by the hundred — get 'em all straight. 

 He'd ruther punch cows, but he does what he can. 

 Does the Government's handy man. 



— Denver Republican. 



