386 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ments wdll be made at rej^ular intervals to determine the increase 

 in volume and the production of wood, following the cutting, among 

 the trees loft of each age and species. Close observations of the 

 reproduction which takes place, brush and other forms of cover which 

 may establish itself, and changes in soil conditions will be recorded. 

 The studies will help to determine the cutting methods which will 

 bring the best results in new forest growth and maximum production 

 of wood. 



In cooperation with the Bureaus of Plant Industry and Entomology 

 stucUes have been conducted on a number of Forests in tree diseases 

 and insect infestations and methods of controUing them. Special 

 effort was made to combat the most serious recent insect infestation, 

 of Dendrodonus monticola, in yellow and lodgepole pine timber on 

 the Whitman National Forest, Oreg. Nearly S25,000 was expended 

 on this Forest in cutting, pihng, and burning recently infested trees. 

 It is hoped that this work, together with logging under pending 

 timber sales on this Forest, will at least materially check the damage 

 threatened by this attack. 



In connection wdth studies of the more serious fungi attacking 

 white fir in the western Sierra Forests of Cahfornia it has been found 

 practicable in recent timber-sale contracts to require the removal 

 of all infested trees of this species. In this manner it will be possible 

 greatly to reduce the extent of the disease and to protect the new 

 growth of timber from its attack. 



Besides these experimental studies there were completed commer- 

 cial tree studies of western yellow pine in the Southwest, Douglas 

 fir in the Northwest, Utah one-seeded juniper, and Rocky Mountain 

 jumper. Similar studies of western yellow pine in Oregon, western 

 red cedar, western white pine, and lodgepole pine were begun. 



RANGE MANAGEMENT. 



The abnormal weather conditions which prevailed during the sum- 

 mer and fall of 1910 brought out strongly the practical value of the 

 methods of range control used on the National Forests. Arrested 

 growth and early maturity of forage, scarcity of water, and all the 

 other disastrous effects of a prolonged drought were apparent on 

 the Forest ranges, but their condition was immeasurably superior 

 to that of contiguous ranges not under regulation. Despite the 

 adverse season few losses of live stock occurred. The control of 

 stock upon the ranges, the enforcement of Federal and State quar- 

 antine regulations, the destruction of predaceous animals with 

 consequent lessening of stock losses, the restoration of depleted 

 ranges, the utilization of new ranges made possible by the construc- 

 tion of trails and the development of new sources of water supply, 

 all progress uninterruptedly, and, contributing materially to the 

 amelioration of discouraging conditions, strengthened the realization 

 of an identity of interests between the stocKmen and the Forest 

 Service to the end that the range resource may yield the largest 

 benefit possible without sacrifice of other interests. There has been 

 a pronounced gain in good will, approval, and cooperation every- 

 where. 



