FOREST SERVICE. 381 



tion of seedlings for this purpose vnU. be gradually increased up to 

 half or three-fourths of a million, as the demand warrants. The plan- 

 tations estabhshed with this stock will be systematically inspected to 

 insure proper methods in planting the trees and the restriction of their 

 distribution to settlers who make effective use of the seedlings. 



The Dakota National Forest was created in response to the request 

 of many citizens of North Dakota, primarily as a demonstration 

 station in methods of reforestation. The establishment of a small 

 nursery seemed necessary to accomplish this purpose. On many 

 portions of the Dakota natural conditions are so adverse that the 

 use of nursery stock will undoubtedly be required for successful 

 reforestation. Yellow pine and native hardwoods, particularly elm, 

 box elder, and green ash, will be the species used. 



The Los Prietos nursery on the Santa Barbara and three nurseries 

 in the foothills of the Angeles will be discontinued with the planting 

 or transfer of all remaining stock. Natural conditions in the foot- 

 hill belt of southern California, a belt naturally treeless and exposed 

 to an exceptionally long season of drought combined \\atli high tem- 

 perature, are so difficult to overcome that it has seemed wise to cease 

 further attempts at afforestation. This decision was based upon 

 the negative results of a large number of plantations made during the 

 past seven years, and upon the conviction that the stream-conserving 

 function of these watersheds will be better met by their native cover 

 of chaparral than by any growth of trees which it is possible to estab- 

 lish. Keforestation work in southern California has therefore been 

 transferred to the timber belt, above 5,000 feet, where success is far 

 more assured and where the planting of large areas will be exceedingly 

 desirable, both for the further protection of headwaters of irrigation 

 systems and for the production of commercial timber. In accord- 

 ance with this policy the Converse Flats nursery has been established 

 on the Angeles National Forest at an elevation of 5,500 feet. This 

 nursery will be kept on a small, intensive basis, its fimction being to 

 conduct experimental tests of a wide range of methods. 



An advance in the development of methods adapted to semiarid 

 conditions was made by tests at the California nurseries and the 

 Coconino Experiment Station of transplanting young seedlings to 

 individual pots of pasteboard or tarred paper, and of growing them 

 in pots from the start. When ready for the field, the entire pot is 

 set out without disturbing the root system of the 3^oung plant. This 

 method has been extensively used in India and South Africa, and 

 promises greater success in carrying seedlings through the first dry 

 season than is possible under the loose-root or European s}^stem. 



In general nursery practice the chief efforts of the Service during 

 the year have been directed to (1) reducing the cost of growing 

 stock, and (2) continuing exhaustive experiments to determine the 

 best nursery rotation for each of the principal species. The cost of 

 the stock previously grown by the Service has been excessive on 

 account of the relatively small size of the nurseries, the heavy initial 

 investments required for equipment, and losses in the first-year seed 

 beds and in transplanting. These elements of cost have been mate- 

 rially reduced through the completion of the equipment of the nur- 

 series, improved organization in the matter of scale of production and' 

 proportionate overhead expenses, and study of the causes of loss in 

 the seedlings and means of preventing it. Much has been accom- 



