THE FOEESTER. 209 



quick reference. A large volume of statistical data was furnislied 

 for the use of foreign governments. The figures on production and 

 consumption in many instances served as a basis for reaching con- 

 clusions on problems of utilization, substitution, and regulation of 

 imports and exports. 



After the armistice was signed arrangements were made to con- 

 tinue cooperation with the Bureaus of Construction and Repair and 

 Steam Engineering of the Navy and with the Air Service and Bureau 

 of Ordnance of the Army, and for the completion of many projects 

 which will yield information useful in peace as well as war. Kecog- 

 nition of the fact that the Forest Service is an authoritative source 

 of information on forest products and their uses has put the office in 

 a position to render considerable assistance to various departments. 



FOREST INVESTIGATION. 



Under "forest investigations" are included a wide range of studies. 

 Some of them have for their purpose better knowledge as to the 

 amount, character, and distribution of our present forests; others 

 concern the demands made upon them for the supply of material of 

 various kinds, probable future demands, and the methods of utili- 

 zation; and still others seek to make possible better m-ethods of utili- 

 zation and the most beneficial contribution of our forest resources to 

 the public welfare, through investigations basic to the successful 

 practice of forestry. The studies are therefore partly economic and 

 mdustrial, in which case they have to do largely with the gathering 

 and interpretation of statistics of production, consumption, present 

 timber stands, and similar matters, and parti}' woods studies of all 

 the factors which control or affect forest establishment, renewal, 

 composition, rate of growth, and character of material produced. 



During the past year the forest investigations have been chiefly 

 those connected with war activities and with the completion of the 

 work started during the war. Many such investigations which were 

 in their midst when hostilities ceased called for completion because 

 of the applicability of their results in the post-war period. Thus the 

 study of the amoinit of black walnut available for airplane con- 

 struction and for gunstocks was completed, and a publication pre- 

 pared dealing with supplies, gi'owth, and management of this valuable 

 species. A summary report was also prepared of the available sup- 

 plies of the kinds of timber most likely to be used in aircraft con- 

 struction during peace time. Tlie study of supplies of the most 

 important timber species has furnished a good deal of knowledge of 

 our timber resources which have distinct value as a basis for shaping 

 measures aimed to secure perpetuation of these supplies, pending 

 provision for a complete timber inventory such as is fundamental to 

 the working out of a sound, thoroughly intelligent forest policy for 

 the Nation. The requirements of the Government for forest products, 

 together with the control of production for needs of the country not 

 directly connected with the prosecution of the war, gave a more 

 iiccurate conception of the broad situation in which we are placed 

 regarding forest products. This, together with inquiries as to the 

 timber situation in foreign countries, afforded a clearer perspective 

 o." how far our own forests can be expected to meet future domestic 

 and foreign needs. 



