271 



the knowledge of what kinds of trees to plant and how to make 

 them grow was imperfect. These were the fundamental pro- 

 blems . (i) The comparative adaptability of various species to 

 regional and local conditions of climate, soil, and moisture ; (2) 

 the comparative usefulness of the species which can be made 

 to thrive; (3) the protective benefits of planted timber; and, 

 (4) the rate of growth and the future yield which can be ex- 

 pected. 



Substantial progress toward the solution of all of these pro- 

 blems has been accomplished. The Forest Service has made 

 in all 300 separate planting plans for private owners, covering 

 an aggreg'ate area of over 50,000 acres, in 36 States and Terri- 

 tories. It has completed regional studies of the broad condi- 

 tions in the Nev/ England States, California, Kansas, Nebraska, 

 Iowa, eastern South Dakota, western Minnesota, Illinois, Okla- 

 homa, and the Ohio Basin in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West 

 Virginia. These studies largely supersede the necessity of 

 future individual studies on the ground. It is now in a position 

 to exercise great helpfulness in the whole planting movement 

 throughout the United States. It has established in the minds 

 of western farmers generally the fact that tree planting can be 

 made successful and that it adds to the money value of their 

 farrns. It has also called attention to the great hygienic impor- 

 tance of tree planting on the watersheds ; of public water sup- 

 plies of cities, east and west ; has developed practical methods 

 for reforesting denuded mountain slopes and for establishing 

 new forest growth in regions of little rainfall, and has power- 

 fully contributed to the great work of reclaiming desert lands 

 through water conservation and to the whole irrigation move- 

 ment. 



THE GAIN IN ECONOMY OF USE. 



The Forest Service has in the last seven years added greatly 

 to our visible forest resources. In the saving of waste it has 

 enriched the country by many millions of dollars, and in this 

 way alone has added vastly more to the National wealth than 

 its total expenditures for all purposes during its entire history. 



Its most important achievements in decreasing the drain 

 upon our forests by providing for their more effective utiliza- 

 tion have been along four lines — determination of the strength 



