NOTES 615 



sand feet remains below $25 in the average, excepting for yellow poplar, 

 basswood, ash, hickory, walnut, and sugar pine. 



From the report of the Secretary of Agriculture for 1917-18, we 

 learn that in the two years the number of live stock permitted on the 

 ranges of the National Forests was increased by approximately 1,000,- 

 000 heads, representing 25 million pounds of beef, 16 million of mut- 

 ton, and 4 million of wool. "The use of the National Forest ranges is 

 increasing and their productivity is rising under the system of regu- 

 lation. Never was the wisdom of Government control of these 

 ranges more manifest than at the present time." 



From the same report it appears that lack of men, especially ex- 

 perienced ones, an unusually early and severe dry season, and insuf- 

 ficiency of appropriations combined to create an unusual danger of 

 forest fires. Relief was furnished by the President of the last-men- 

 tioned trouble by a loan of $1,000,000 from his emergency fund. 



The revision of the Forest School curriculum was discussed at a 

 recent meeting at the University of IMontana. The Forest Service and 

 local lumber interests were represented, as well as the school faculty. 

 The meeting was fortunate, in that Col. H. S. Graves was in Missoula 

 at the time and was able to attend. The conclusion reached was that 

 students should be given a well-rounded course in forestry without 

 attempting to develop specialists. The course as planned will be suffi- 

 ciently broad, however, to form a basis for such special work, if the 

 student cares to enter these fields. The lumbermen were very much 

 interested in the course of study, and had many suggestions to offer 

 providing for courses of study which would make the graduates of im- 

 mediate practical value in logging operations. Such co-operation is 

 bound to result in immense good to the school and to the practice of 

 foresti'y. 



The causes of forest fires in Oregon for five years 1914 to 1918, 

 both inside and outside the National Forests, have just been tabulated 

 by "Mr. Talbott. During the five-year period the following totals accu- 

 mulated : 10,079 fi^^s were reported, destroying 1,706,048 m. b. f. 

 The total damage to timber, logs, and logging equipment for the 

 five years was $2,022,117.74. Total area burned over, 1,240,910 acres. 

 Classified by causes, the fires appear as follows : Railroad, 262 ; light- 

 ning, 2,093; incendiary, 2,274; brush burning, 960; campers, 1,752; 

 lumbering operations, 314; unknown, 1.994; miscellaneous, 265; stock 



