FORESTRY. 541 
either because too much has been undertaken from a misunderstanding 
of the instructions given or for some other reasons given in the reports 
inclosed. 
I have not attempted to give a summary of the results obtained, 
because I have hardly received material sufiicient in quantity or adapted 
in quality to such an analysis. I therefore forward herewith these 
reports for the information of the Commissioner of Agriculture himself. 
The reports inclosed have come from the commanding officers of the 
following posts: Forts Riley, Kansas; Reno, Camp Supply, and Gibson, 
Indian Territory; Lyon and Garland, Colorado; Bayard, Craig, Selden, 
and Wingate, New Mexico. ; 
It is also requested that in forwarding these documents to the Com- 
missioner of Agriculture a copy of my last annual report be sent, to- 
gether with copies of sheets Nos. 2 and 4 Department of the Missouri 
map, and a copy of my map of the Indian Territory. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
K. H. RUFFNER, 
First Lieutenant Engineers. 
KANSAS. 
FORT RILEY. 
Captain T. E. Ross, Sixteenth Infantry, reports: 
I have the honor to state, in reply to your communication of the 29th ultimo, that 
any information relating to the forestry, rainfall, &c., of this region, must neces- 
sarily be imperfect and unsatisfactory. 
In regard to the rainfall, I can only refer you to the report of Surgeon C. C. Gray, 
United States Army, which is herewith transmitted. 
In regard to the forestry, Ihave no data from which to give you the required in- 
formation except my own observation, which is imperfect, from the fact that I have 
given the subject no attention further than for purposes of hunting, and the discovery 
of roads, paths, and divides, over which this region can be mosteasily traversed. Asa 
result of this observation, I have found that, in all the old gulches or cafions leading 
from the tops of the high bluffs in the vicinity of the rivers and streams, there is a 
tolerably thick growth of oak and valuable timber, interspersed with a few maples, 
cottonwoods, and other species. These gulches or cafions have generally an area from 
one-fourth to one-half mile in length, and an average of about fifty yards in width, 
and from one-half to one and two miles apart. 
On the bottoms of the rivers there is, in many places, a scattering growth of tim- 
ber, generally of the same kind as that found in the cafions. I have noticed in a few 
places on the river bottoms where there are bodies of timber of several hundred acres 
in extent—one about nine miles from this post in the direction of Milford, on the 
Republican River; anotherright opposite this post, in what is called the bends of the 
Smoky Hill River; another in the bend of the Kaw River, six miles from here, in the 
neighborhood of Ogden and Manhattan. 
On all the large creeks extending into the rivers there is also a growthof timber. 
None of the timber in this region is large and stately, but israther low, spreading, and 
scragsy ; neither is there any body of timber in this region that can be denominated a 
forest ; nor will the timbered land embrace more than one-fiftieth of the whole extent 
of this region as far as it has come under my observation. 
In regard to the elevation, I have no means of obtaining it, either barometrically 
or otherwise, nor doI find it anywhere given, except in the medical report of the 
hygiene of the United States Army, with description of military posts, and this work 
is already in your possession. 
INDIAN TERRITORY. 
FORT RENO. 
Major J. K. Mizzum, Fourth Cavalry, writes as follows: 
In compliance with request contained in your letter of September 29, I have the 
honor to forward herewith a report of the forestry and map of country in vicinity of 
this post. (See map of Indian Territory.) 
