REPORT OF NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL FOR 

 SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS 



The following rcijori deals with the activities of the Division of 

 Biology and Agriculture of the National Research Council aside from 

 tlie Forestry Committee, u'hich is being reported upon by Mr. Zon. 

 This division has been very active and is working on a considerable 

 numlter of projects, for stimulating research in various lines, but only 

 such projects as deal more or less directly with forestry will be con- 

 sidered in this report. 



The Research Council is based upon the scientific societies of the 

 country, and its accom])lishtuent will depend upon the support and 

 interest of these societies. Since the council is lr\ing to help the 

 societies, it is in the interest of the societies to assist the efforts of the 

 council. Research is being stimulated in a number of ways. Perhaps 

 one of the most important is in bringing together scientists working in 

 different fields, thereby creating among investigators a better under- 

 standing of each others problems and securing effective cooperation. 

 Many sciences have reached the point where, although the field has 

 not yet been fully covered, contact and cooperation with related sciences 

 are essential to full development. This applies to forestry perhaps 

 more than to almost any other science, since many of our problems are 

 dependent for their solution upon research in various fields. Suppose, 

 for example, we have to reforest 1,0U0 acres of burned over mountains. 

 We first use the data we already possess bearing on the problem. But 

 this is not enough — we must turn to meteorology for accurate data on 

 climate; we must call upon the student of soils to help determine the 

 character of the soil and its suitability for different tree species ; we 

 turn to the zoologist to protect our sowings from rodents ; we ask the 

 assistance of the entomologist in preventing insect attacks, and of the 

 plant pathologist in overcoming diseases, and so on. Our practice is 

 thus based on a large number of sciences, all of which are of im- 

 ])()rtance in determining the requirements of the forest and in success- 

 fully handling it. At present many men are carrying on work in 

 various lines without realizing the bearing of their work on each others 

 problems ; they are leaving gaps which need to be filled. The Research 

 Council is helping to fill these gaps and to bring together workers in 



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