134 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



practicable, and of the methods to he economicallj' emf)loyed in vari- 

 ous regions. Tliis knowledge can he ohtained onlj' l)y an exhaustive 

 study of iilantations already estahlished. Sucli a study was vigor- 

 ously j)ursued, during the past j'ear, alongthe lines already established, 

 in 20 large plantations, 8 of Avhich are located in the Middle West and 

 12 in the East. The study of the Hard}^ Catali^a for economic plant- 

 ing was completed, and a bulletin based upon it is in press. A study 

 of the White Pine for economic i)lanting in New England is in prog- 

 ress, and a report is in course of preparation. 



Closely connected with these investigations is a study now under 

 way with the object of finding trees better adapted to the South- 

 western plains than those hitherto in use. Types of trees inured to 

 hard conditions of climate and soil in other regions are being intro- 

 duced, in the hope that trees thoroughly fitted for the situation may 

 be discovered. 



STUDIES OF FOREST EXTENSION. 



The study of the practicability of forest extension by assisting 

 natural reproduction Avas begun two years ago in the timber belts 

 which i^roject into the prairies along the streams of the Middle West. 

 During the past year this study was mucli advanced by a forest sur- 

 vey whicli included a large portion of Nebraska. It was found that 

 the forests of that State, which consist mostly of narrow belts along 

 the streams, liave extended over large areas of prairie land within the 

 last twenty-five years, where they were i3rotected from fire and stock. 

 It is estimated that in eastern Nebraska, where the timber is confined 

 to hardwoods, the growth of the forest througli its encroachment on 

 prairie land amounts to not less than 400 square miles. The exten- 

 sion of the forest is noticeable on almost every stream and ravine. 

 The forest is known to have traveled up certain streams as much as 

 2 miles and to have taken complete possession of tracts of 80 to 100 

 acres of prairie lands within the last twentj^-five years. 



A knowledge of how to assist natural reproduction effectually will 

 be useful throughout the Middle West, where there are hundreds of 

 scantily wooded stream valleys wliieh should support a heavy stand 

 of timber. Such knowledge "vvill also be of much use in dealing with 

 the denuded lands in tlie Eastern States, especially where reproduc- 

 tion has l)een prevented by repeated fires. It is likely to be of great- 

 est value, iiowever, on the National forest reserves, where the stand 

 of timber is often deficient and in the management of which time is 

 often a less important factor than on private lands. 



RESERVE PLANTING. 



The first step in this important work was taken this year. In the 

 forest survey made in Nebraska, convincing evidence was found of 

 the adaptability of the sand-hill district of that State to the growtli 

 of forest trees. Bull Pine and Red Cedar are spreading over the hills 

 naturally near the Niol)rara River, a decided tendency toward shrub 

 growth exists throughout the district, and the Government's experi- 

 ment in planting conifers, made nearly fifteen years ago, has been 

 attended Avith marked success. At the recommendation of Senator 

 Dietrich, of Nebi'aska, supported by the Bureau of Forestrj^ the 

 President, on the Kith of last, April, estalilished in the sand-hill 

 region two forest reserves of a joint area of 208,902 acres. With the 



