xl report of the secretary of agriculture. 



Records. 



The enlargement of the Bureau's quarters, which took place during 

 the year, made possible for the first time the proper equipment of a 

 librarj^ and the transference thither of the entire collection of forest 

 literature from the Department library. This has given the Bureau 

 a large, easily accessible working and reference library". The photo- 

 graphic collection now numbers over 6,000 prints, and a well-equipped 

 photographic laboratory has been installed. 



Tree Planting. 



The work of the Bureau in tree planting for the last year has been 

 chiefl}' notable in the conspicuous progress made in extending cooper- 

 ative planting, in the creation of the first reserves for forest planting 

 on Government lands in a region that is now unproductive of timber, 

 and in the successful initiation of measures to control, by means of 

 planted forests, the shifting sand dunes on both the Atlantic and the 

 Pacific coasts. 



In tree planting as in forest management the Bureau has sought, as 

 the onh' method by which the desired end could be attained on a broad 

 scale, to enlist the interest of the private landowner. Circular No. 

 22, issued July 8, 1899, offers cooperation in the work of planting for- 

 ests similar to that previousl}'' made for forest management. Up to 

 the close of the last fiscal year 262 applications for assistance had been 

 received, nearly 200,000 acres had been examined, and 224 planting 

 plans, covering about 6,400 acres, had been made. Of these, 51 plans 

 for about 3,400 acres were made during the past fiscal year, and 83,597 

 acres were examined. 



These figures, however, by no means cover the actual accomplish- 

 ment of the Bureau in introducing forest plantations on private lands. 

 The plans made are for 172 localities, in 29 States and Territories. 

 Not only does the example set by each plantation made affect the 

 whole neighborhood, but there has also been in many cases a public 

 agitation of the question of tree planting, with local meetings addressed 

 by the agents of the Bureau. Extensive planting on other land than 

 that for which plans were made has frequently followed. Plantations 

 of this kind will be of very considerable economic value in man}^ States 

 of the Middle West by furnishing local supplies of firewood, fencing, 

 telegraph poles, and railroad ties, besides providing wind-breaks and 

 other protection. 



The success of economic tree planting in many scantilj- timbered or 

 treeless regions of the ISIiddle West is now assured. This means 

 enhanced prosperity for these regions. A local timber supply is a 

 matter of decided importance to the farmer, who needs cheap fuel and 

 fencing. As a result of the Bureau's work, thriving plantations now 



