FORESTRY. 527 
thickening the soil; the cottonwoods spread over it, and in fifteen or twenty years it 
will become a fine piece of timber land, that is, for'this country. It is estimated that 
at least six hundred acres of good timber land have been washed away within five 
miles of this post within the last three years. 
Of course I do not profess to be accurate in the estimates I make of the timber land 
washed away and remaining, but give my opinion only. Directly in front of this 
post, and for two miles above it, a large body of land is forming along the west bank, 
pushing the river-bed in some places nearly half a mile further east than it was three 
years ago at the same point. It must be observed, however, that the destruction of 
timber near the posts far exceeds the growth of it on the new lands. 
6th. Whether the planting of trees has been resorted to, and with what success: 
Trees have been planted at Forts A. Lincoln and Rice, and at this post, with perfect 
success. While in command at Fort A. Lincoln I caused nearly one thousand trees to 
be planted., All that were placed in suitable ground have grown finely. Some of them 
died because they were placed in hard, dry spots, and some from the want of water; 
but those. planted in the damper places that produce high, coarse grass, and that have 
sufficient moisture in the soil, have grown with great rapidity and have becdme beau- 
tiful shade trees. 
The trees planted at Fort Rice look remarkably thrifty. The majority of the trees 
planted at this post last spring by my directions have generally grown well; but as 
they were not sufficiently trimmed when transplanted they have not thriven as well 
as they would otherwise have done. When trees are transplanted, thrifty. young 
trees about two inches in diameter at the ground should beselected. All the branches 
should be cut off, also the main trunk about 8 or 9 feet above the root. They should 
be planted in holes about 30 inches in diameter and 2 feet deep; shallow and narrow 
trenches should be dug so as to conduct the surface rain-water to the tree for a dis- 
tance of 6 feet or more. The arrangement of these trenches and their direction must 
depend on the slope of the ground. It is well to have the loose earth around the tree 
one or two inches lower than the ground level, so as to hold water. For shade trees 
transplanting is the best method. | For forests and plantations slips and roots should 
be used, to save time and labor. Roots enough to plant can always be found along 
the banks of the river, creeks, and saad-bars. I have never planted any other trees in 
this region than cottonwood, but I believe soft maple would flourish here as well as 
the native trees of the locality. It is probable, too, that sugar maples would grow 
finely along the streams and in well-watered places. 
If stringent laws could be passed by Congress and the legislatures to prevent 
prairie fires, it would be greatly to the benefit of thisregion of country in respect to 
the growth of timber and the preservation of grass for hay and grazing. No trees 
have been planted by private parties in this region, for the reason that no permanent 
settlement can be made on the reservation. It would be a very easy and economical 
matter to plant and grow all the timber necessary for fuel, building purposes, and 
shelter of stock in this locality, and if the General Government would exercise a little 
care to prevent fires and to regulate the cutting of the timber, it is my opiniou that 
all the northern half of Dakota Territory would become a well-timbered country in 
fifteen or twenty years. 
FORT RICH. 
Latitude, 46° 30’; longitude, 100° 34’. On the right bank of the Mis- 
souri River. 
Dr. BLAIR D. TAYLOR, assistant surgeon, U. S. A., says: 
I have the honor to submit the following report on this reservation and adjacent 
country, as called for in circular letter of the 8th instant from department headquar- 
ters, and in your indorsement of the 11th instant referring the same to me: 
Ist. The present extent of the forest area: The forest on this reservation, with the 
exception of a few isolated clumps of small trees in hollows and ravines, is confined 
exclusively to the Missouri River bottoms and those of the Cannon Ball River. North 
of the post is a large bottom about four and a half miles in length, and varying from 
one-half mile to seven and a half miles in width. Nearly eight miles further up the 
river is another bottom not quite so large. On the south side of the post is a narrow 
strip of timbered bottom extending to the Cannon Ball. River, eight miles below. 
The latter river has narrow, timbered low-lands oneach side. ‘Opposite the post, on 
the east bank of the Missouri, is a small bottom one and a half miles long and one- 
half mile wide. On the same side of the river, seven miles north, is a large bottom of 
about the same area as the one first mentioned, and well timbered. 
On all these bottoms the original growth of timber is very scarce and is confined to 
a few large trees very much scattered. The majority of the trees are the growth of 
the last thirty-eight or forty years. 5 
Qn nearly all of the low-lands mentioned the forest constitutes about one-half of 
