REPORT OF THE FORESTER. 195 



species of European, eTapanese, and American forest trees. The study 

 of the nomenchiture and the collection of dendrological data were 

 continued. The dendi'()lo£:ist also served throughout the year on the 

 P'ederal Horticultural Board. One of tlie important matters before 

 this board has been to devise and put into effect measures for the con- 

 trol of the A'ery dangerous white-pine blister rust, which if not held 

 in check threatens to cause enormous damage to the white-pine forest 

 growths of the AVcst as well as of the East and the Lake States. 



STUDIES IN FOKKST I'UODUCTS. 



Utilization of National Forest timber. — Mill scale and depreciation 

 studies were continued to secure a better basis for appraisals of 

 National Forest timber. Detailed studies of markets wx're also con- 

 tinued. Structural tests on Alaskan species to ascertain their suita- 

 bility for mining purposes proved several to be equal to or better 

 than a number of species commonly used in the Eocky Mountains. 

 A safe method of artificially drying Sitka spruce for use in air- 

 planes was developed. Work was continued on Eocky Mountain 

 Douglas fir to find some means for satisfactory preservative treat- 

 ment. The administrative organization was assisted in stimulating 

 interest in pulp clumces on National Forests. Kiln-drying tests w^ere 

 made on Douglas fir and western yellow pine, and further efforts 

 made to prevent brown stain in the drying of sugar pine. Several 

 additional National Forest species were shown to be suitable for 

 No. 1 kraft paper. 



Forest Products Lahoratory. — In addition to the cooperation with 

 various governmental agencies and manufacturers of war orders on 

 war problems already discussed, there was effective cooperation with 

 various cities and societies to bring about the best methods of preserv- 

 ative treatment for wood-block pavements ; with furniture and wood- 

 enware manufacturers, railroads, and lumber manufacturers in meth- 

 ods of kiln drying, and in the design of dry kilns ; as in the past, with 

 numerous railroad, telephone, and telegraph companies, in the pre- 

 servative treatment of ties and poles; with factory and insurance 

 companies in the development of preservatives to prevent decay in 

 cotton mills; and with pulp and paper companies on various ques- 

 tions of pulp and paper making. Cooperation progressed to the stage 

 of commercial demonstrations in the use of waste hemlock bark for 

 roofing and various paper products; in the treatment of timber to 

 prevent sap stain; in the kiln-drying of southern pine; and in the 

 ])roduction of ethyl alcohol from wood waste, in which it is possible 

 by the improved process developed in the laboratory to reduce oper- 

 ating expenses by $300 per day. At the national tractor exhibit for 

 1910 at Madison, Wis., an ordinary farm engine was operated on 

 ethyl alcohol made from wood waste. Specially designed engines 

 will produce as much work per pound of alcohol as per pound of 

 gasoline. 



Approximately 10,000 additional tests of mechanical properties of 

 various species of wood were made, and a report was completed 

 analyzing the approximately 130,000 tests made up to the present. 

 These data make possible scientific gi-ading rules for structural tim- 

 ber, such as those already perfected for southern pine and under 

 development for Douglas fir and hemlock, and, in general, furnish a 



