36 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPAKTMENT OF AGEICULTUKE. 



specifications had to be revised to meet the emergency conditions. In 

 some cases it was necessary to locate new sources of supplies and, in 

 many instances, to find satisfactory substitutes for the materials 

 previously used. A very important part of the work relates to 

 methods of conditioning rapidly, through artificial seasoning, woods 

 used in the manufacture of rifles, airplanes, and vehicles. Assist- 

 ance in these directions has been rendered by the Forest Service to 

 the War and Navy Departments and also to the Shipping Board 

 and the Emergency Fleet Corporation, to various committees of the 

 Council of National Defense, and to manufacturers of war orders. 

 To press this work effectively it has been necessary to discontinue 

 most of the peace-time investigations of the Forest Products Labora- 

 tory at Madison and to devote its research facilities and staff mainly 

 to the study of war problems. 



At the request of the War Department the Forest Service assisted 

 in the organization of a regiment — the Tenth Engineers (forest) — 

 for forestry work abroad. It selected and recommended to the War 

 Department a list of officers who were experienced practical foresters 

 and lumbermen. It also made arrangements to secure recruits, mainly 

 woodsmen, lumbermen, and sawmill hands, and the necessary equip- 

 ment, fitted to meet the conditions which operating in France would 

 involve, was devised. It is now cooperating with the War Depart- 

 ment in the organization of another similar regiment — the Twentieth 

 Engineers (forest). 



AEROLOGICAL WORK DE^^L0PED. 



The Weather Bureau has placed at the disposal of the Naval 

 forces along the coasts of the United States and the Army timely 

 and accurate weather information. The work of the weather sta- 

 tions along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts has been closely 

 coordinated with the coast-guard and coast-patrol services of the 

 Nav}' Department. Some of the forecasters of the Weather Bureau 

 have been commissioned by the War Department and, in this way, 

 the cooperation between the two agencies will be rendered more 

 effective. 



An appropriation of $100,000 for extending the aerological work 

 of the Weather Bureau in aid of aeronautics was included in the 

 Army Appropriation Act of May 12, 1917. This sum became avail- 

 able on July 1, and steps immediately were taken to put into effect the 



