FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 49 



I)ulp and to the distillation of wood and the production of wood spirit, 

 methyl alcohol, acetone, pyroligenous acid, charcoal and other products. 

 This work is now thoroughly organized and will be prosecuted with 

 great vigor. 



DETAILS OF THE BUREAU'S lUACTICAL WORK. 



The forest work through which the bureau is reaching and securing 

 the support of the constituents of American forestry is that cooperation 

 outlined in circulars 21 and 22. 



Circular 21 outlines the practical assistance the bureau can give to 

 farmers, lumbermen and others in the handling of their forest lands. 

 This otier may effect three classes of owners : The government of the 

 United States to which belong the reserve and unreserved forests of the 

 public land states; some of the states, and lastly, private owners, among 

 whom are individual men, companies and institutions. 



The private forest lands exceed in area those of the states and the 

 federal government combined, and their preservation in productive condi- 

 tion, as regards timber and water supply, is of vast importance to the 

 nation. As a rule, the treatment these lands receive, destroys their 

 value, instead of sustaining or increasing it. The reason is evident. 

 The lands, like other private property are held by their owners for the 

 returns of the yield, and the owners as yet have scarcely begun to under- 

 stand that it was better as a rule, to protect a forest in harvesting the 

 timber crop than to destroy it. A knowledge of how to bring about this 

 desirable result is still more restricted, while trained men capable of 

 advising forest owners in the matter are very few indeed. 



For these reasons the bureau of forestry has undertaken to provide a 

 series of practical examples of improved treatment of private forest 

 lands, in which the present interest of the owner and the protection and 

 improvement of the forest shall have equal weight. The one is essential 

 to the other, for the productive value of forest land, is the only considera- 

 tion that will lead to its preservation by the great majority of private 

 owners. The object of the present undertaking is to show that improved 

 ways of handling timber lands are best for the owner as well as the 

 forest, by assisting a few owners to make trial of them, and then pub- 

 lishing the methods and results for the benefit of all. 



Forest lands in private ownership are mainly of two kinds, small hold- 

 ings, for the most part farmers' wood lots, and larger areas, chiefly 

 valuable for lumber. This bureau is prepared to lend its aid to the 

 owners of each kind, on receipt of applications stating the situation, 

 area and character of the forests for which working plans are desired. 



Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received, 

 but precedence may be given to the lands most likely to furnish useful 

 results. A working plan once prei)ared will not be put in effect unless 

 it is satisfactory to the bureau of forestry and to the owner. 



Throughout a very large portion of tlie United States every farm has 

 a certain part of its area under wood, either ])lanted, as in regions 

 otherwise treeless, or of natural growth. The value of this wooded por- 

 tion, besides affording protection from the wind, is chiefly for fuel, fencing 

 and railroad ties, with some building material and the wood needed 

 for special use about the farm. ^Vithout the wood lot the farm would 

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