506 



ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



on the Harney, two for lodp:epole pine on the Medicine Bow and 

 Arnpnho, and two for Doufj^las fir on the Oregon and Snoqiiahnie 

 National Forests. The plant on the Harney has been tested with a 

 trial run, and will be ready for handling cones collected in the fall 

 of 1912. The lodgepole pine plant on the Medicine Bow was run 

 for several weeks, during which over 3,000 bushels of cones were 

 treated. The Wyeth kiln on the Oregon was in operation slightly 

 more than 100 days, during which 11,834 pounds of seed were ex- 

 tracted from 11,547 sacks of cones. The average cost per pound of 

 extraction of the 10,831 pounds of Douglas fir seed collected was 37 

 cents, and the cost during the last 40 days of operation after the 

 perfection of the plant was 20* cents. 



The first application of the policy outlined in last year's report of 

 concentration in seed collection in favorable seasons with a propor- 

 tionate reduction in acreage seeded was made in district 6, to take 

 adA'antage of a good seed crop of Douglas fir. This policy will 

 result in the organization of the work within each district upon a 

 basis of two or more years' work rather than an annual basis, and 

 should make possible the reduction of costs in the long run by the 

 concentration each year upon the particular part of the whole opera- 

 tion which can be done to best advantage. The areas to be refor- 

 ested in different districts must therefore be considered as averages 

 by periods of two or more years and not as areas which are to be 

 reforested every year. 



In connection with direct seeding, special investigations to solve 

 the rodent problem are being carried on. Where on any particular 

 site it is found impossible to control the rodents, direct seeding is 

 not done. A careful record of the results of past experience has 

 been put into effect and is constantly kept up to date, so that by 

 analysis of these reports it is possible to plan more efficiently future 

 reforestation work. 



The w^ork of the year. — In the table below is shown the amount 

 of seed of coniferous and hardwood species collected in the six dis- 

 tricts, the amounts of seed purchased by the service, and average 

 costs per pound : 



Of the 1,105 pounds of foreign coniferous seed purchased 800 

 pounds were maritime pine, which cost slightly over 8 cents per 

 pound. The other 305 pounds cost, on an average, 41 cents per pound. 



