CORRELATION OF AMERICAN FOREST RESEARCH 167 



was Utterly inadequate to meet the demand. The opportunity for 

 public service in a constructive and urgent work of vast national 

 importance fascinated those fortunate enough to be engaged in it. 

 It was so strong in its appeal that the investigative work for the time 

 became secondary. Forest administration seemed to offer the only 

 real career for foresters. Very soon, however, the real practice of 

 forestry began. It was necessary to raise and plant forest tree seedlings 

 and to develop methods of cutting for many different regions and 

 forest types. The forest must be protected from fire, insects, and 

 fungi. Men began to realize how little real basis they had for their 

 work. Great difficulties were encountered in nursery practice and in 

 field planting. There v/as uncertainty and great difference of opinion 

 in regard to methods of cutting. European precedents for different 

 species and different conditions, physical and economic, did not adapt 

 themselves readily to National Forest practice. Gradually as the im- 

 portant questions of policy and organization have been settled or 

 greater stability reached, the investigative work has been acquiring 

 the position and the significance which rightly belong to it. 



It was realized that in order to secure good results the full time 

 of investigators must be available for research, and that the same men 

 could not successfully carry on administrative and investigative work. 

 Gradually the investigators were, separated into distinct units of 

 organization. A central investigative committee considered once a 

 year the entire research program of the Service, correlated the work 

 of the different units, gave it purpose and stability and breadth of 

 vision. Plans of work were required before efforts were started on 

 projects outlining in some detail the method of attack and securing 

 full thought, advice and assistance in advance. Finally research has 

 been reco^gnized as one of the main lines of Service activities and 

 largely set aside in the organization as such. Foresters realize that 

 research offers a career, that those who are fortunate enough to be 

 qualified and are selected for it have an equal or greater opportunity 

 to live in forestry than their associates in administrative work. 



The program of the Forest Service has attempted to cover the 

 entire field of forest research. Beginning with dendrology it has led 

 into the life histories of trees and of tree associations or types. All 

 phases of forestation from the production and extraction of the seed 

 to the ultimate results of field planting are under observation. Forest 

 management in its broadest sense is receiving attention. Protection 



