INSECT DF.rnF.nATIOXS IN NOHTir AMF.HTCAN FORESTS. 77 



rocomnuMuliitioiis. Ad expert in l<>c;Uiii<r infest od timber. \vorkin<r 

 nnder instructions from this IJiirenn. ^:ne instructions to tlie miinn- 

 ger of the estate in locatinii; ami inari<in^^ the infected trees and in 

 the essential features in the methods of utilization to lU'stroy tlie 

 necessary number of beetles; he also marked infested timber on an 

 adjoining^ estate and on the National Forest. Five months later, in 

 May, 1908, this expert rejjorted that the lai<rei- clumps of infested 

 trees on the estate had been converted into lumber and the slabs 

 bullied, and that the maria'd trees on the ad join inir estate and National 

 Forest had bei'n cut and barked. In Novemi)ei-. l!»()s. another inspec- 

 tion of the forest on the estate and surr()undin<j: area was made by 

 the exjjcrt. and on December 1 he reported as follows: 



Nothiii}; could l»e more satisfactery tliaii the results oljtaiuod l)y the cutting 

 of the infested tiniiier on the estate. Yein* reconiuieiuhitioiis and iustructioMS 

 submitted to the owner, and carefully followed hy the uiauajier of the estate. 

 Lave clearly demonstrated that insect infestation can be controlled, and at no 

 expense to the owner of the timber involved ; in fact a very satisfactory price 

 was realized, resulting in a net profit, I understand, of over $.5 per thousand 

 feet, board measure, on the 240,000 feet cut. This, of course, does not include 

 the jirotit of the niillinfr operations, but for the lops sold at the mill, after de- 

 ductini: the expenses of cuttinjj and lo.L:f;;injr. The sawmill was owned and oi)er- 

 atiHl by an Idaho S|irinf:s tirm. and the manufactured article sold in that town. 

 I s|)ent six days on the estate. November IS to 2;^. After a very thorough ex- 

 amination of the timber. I found only three infested trees, isolated individuals, 

 and over a mile from where the larjie clumi>s of infested trees were cut. With 

 the exception of those three trees, there is no new infestation on the estate. I 

 also examinetl the adjoiniufi lands, but no new infestation was observetl. The 

 infested tnn's which I marked in December. 1!M)7. had l)een cut and barked. On 

 the I'ike National Fori«st. contiguous to the first mentioned estate, where you 

 will remember I marked some clumps of infested trees, no new infestation was 

 found, not one tree. 



This most gratifying result demonstrated two important things: 

 One, that an extensive outbreak by the most destructive barkbeetle 

 enemy of the pine timln'r of the central Rocky Mountain forests, in- 

 volving in this ca.se more than 1,000 infested tree.s, can be controlled 

 without expense, and even at a profit, whenever the conditions are 

 favorable for the utilization of the infested timber; the other, that 

 the essential details of the recommendations and expert advice, based 

 on the results of scientific research, can be successfully applied by a 

 manager of a piivate forest or 1)V the rangers of national and state 

 forests. It also indicates (juite conclusively that the widespread dep- 

 redations in the Hlack Hills National Forest could have been i)revented 

 with very little expense to the (iovernment if the matter had received 

 prompt attention in 1!)01. when the first investigations were made 

 and essentially the same recommendations stibmitted. I Jut. through 

 the lack of j)ul)lic !ij)preciation of the importance of the problem at 

 the time, and the lack of sullicieiit authority and funds later, the out- 

 break was allowed to extend beyond practical control, and iu conse- 



