Supervisors' Meeting. 71 



only thrifty and sound seed trees. The practice of leaving 

 diseased or over-mature seed trees is strictly comparable with 

 raising cattle and sheep from diseased stock. 



The subject of insect infestation was discussed by John M. 

 Miller, Forest Ranger. The amount of damage caused bv insects 

 on the National Forests of California has never been carefully 

 estimated. However, on some of the National Forests the pres- 

 ence of dead and dying timber is presenting a problem so acute, as 

 to force itself upon the attention of the forest officers and timber 

 owners. The presence of insect damage is less striking on account 

 of the mixed stands, since many of the insect enemies are peculiar 

 to only one species of tree or are capable of doing their most ser- 

 ious damage on one host. The knowledge of a specialist is needed 

 for the positive identification of species and the scientific super- 

 vision of remedial work. But for the primary location of insect 

 damage we will undoubtedly have to depend upon that all around 

 man, the Forest Ranger. To assist rangers in helping to carry out 

 this work there is needed a publication which will contain the more 

 elementary portions of information relating to fungus and insect 

 enemies of the forest. Collections of forest insects are also 

 needed in the district and supervisors offices. The work of 

 combating damage by insects and fungus in the west is still largely 

 in an experimental stage, since the methods now known are 

 largely theoretical or are based on work that has been done in the 

 middle west under conditions which are materially different from 

 those existing on the coast. It will take at least another year of 

 experimentation before it can be determined what are the best 

 methods to pursue. 



Mr. O. C. Merrill, Chief Engineer of the Forest Service, out- 

 lined briefly the development of water power in California and 

 methods of encouraging its use. Within the National Forests are 

 approximately 15,000,000 undeveloped horse power, of which 

 practically one-third is within the forests of California. The capi- 

 talized value of this total undeveloped horse power is, on the basis 

 of $100 per horse power, $1,500,000,000. In California the control 

 of water power will eventually mean the control of all industries, 

 especially after the present fuel supply becomes more nearly 

 exhausted. Water is slowly displacing all other sources of power. 

 This is evidenced by the fact that one hydro-electric company in 

 central California is to-day practically furnishing all the power 



