FORESTRY. 523 
The planting of trees las been resorted to at this post, but without sudcess. »The ex- 
periment lias been continued off and on for the past seven years. The want of success 
is due, I think, to several causes, among them the absence of proper soil to support 
tree life, and the unnatural exposure of trees removed from sheltered places to exposed 
points on the parade grounds. ; 
FORT TOTTEN. 
Latitude 47° 59’ 06”, longitude 99° (on the southeastern shore of 
Devil’s Lake). The surrounding country is elevated prairie. Winter 
usually sets in with November and continues to the end of March, the 
thermometer often reaching 40° below zero. 
Captain A. A. HARBACH, Twentieth Infantry, in his report states : 
Nearly all of the forest area within a radius of thirty miles lies contiguous to Deyil’s 
Lake, and is estimated at ninety-four square miles, or sixty thousand one hundred 
and sixty acres. The forest area on the north shore of the lake (including that portion 
commonly spoken of as the islands) is estimated at fifteen square miles, or nine thou- 
sand six hundred acres. The remainder lies south of the lake and north of the Chey- 
enne River, and is included in Indian and military reservations. 
Altitude 1,480 feet; not known how determined, but supposed to have been ascer- 
tained by some surveying party. Average rainfall for the past six years, 17.07 inches 
(ascertained by means of rain-gauge). 
The great bulk of the timber is oak, of the variety known as burr-oak, and com- 
monly described as openings. Ash is next in importance as regards quantity and 
value. In addition to the oak and ash there are in small quantities basswood, 
poplar, balm of Gilead, elm, willow, and: a variety of soft maple. But few good saw- 
logs are to be had, owing to the scrubby character of the timber. The oak makes 
excellent fuel when care is taken to procure body-wood. 
It is believed that during the past few years the production has equaled the con- 
sumption. - On the north of the Jake fires make their yearly inroads, and it is probable 
that there is a steady decrease in the timber area. South of the lake fires have been 
kept out by the Indians, who have not only their cabins and fenced clearings to pro- 
tect, but their winter grazing grounds. 
The estimated consumption is as follows: Fire-wood, 6,000 cords; lumber, 50,000 
feet ; logs used in construction of cabins, &c., 2,000. 
Against this destruction we have the growth from a protected area of seventy-eight 
square miles, or fifty thousand acres, which is believed to be a full compensation. No 
planting has been resorted to, with the exception of a limited number of trees om 
parade ground. Under favorable circumstances there is no difficulty in growing the 
elm, soft maple, balm of Gilead, or willows. 
FORT PEMBINA. 
Latitude, 48° 56’ 46” ; longitude, 97° 12’ 30”; on the left bank of the 
Red River of the North. 
The surrounding country for thirty miles is flat and low and well watered. Winter 
sets in with November and lasts until about the middle of April. The elevation is 787 
feet, determined barometrically. The average annual rainfall from November 1, 
1871, to November 1, 1877, was 16.65 inches, measured by rain-gauge. 
Lieutenant PAUL HARwoop, Twentieth Infantry, reports as follows: 
The present forest area upon the reservation is about four hundred and fifty acres, 
and what remains of its former extent is indifferent and valueless, not only for fuel, 
but for building purposes. * * * The timber that remainsis cotton, elm, bass, ma- 
pie, and a little poplar, together with a comparatively thick underbrush of hazel and 
willows. 
The water by rain and snow, itis safe to say, is absorbed in a great measure by the 
ground, although there are in this vicinity ‘‘coulisses” that during the wet season 
carry off to the river more or less of the water that accumulates in the spring from 
melted snow, but generally the rain that falls during the spring and summer months 
is eit by the soil, which is a rich black loam to the depth of fifteen or eightcen 
inches. 
The timber is confined to the vicinity and banks of the rivers, viz., Red, Tongue and 
Pembina, the latter river possessing, I imagine, the greatest area of forestry, and 
where it grows to a great height and size. No pine isobtained, as far as I know, im this 
vicinity, the nearest pinery being in the valley of the Rosseau River, on the Canadian 
side of the line, about forty-five or fifty miles east by north from thispoint. * * * 
