LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Division of Forestry, 

 Washington, 1). €., March 15, 189S. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith for publication a monograph ou the White Pine of 

 the Northern United States. 



The first draft of this monograph, like the one on "The Timber Pines of the Southern United 

 States" (Bulletin Xo. 13, Division of Forestry), by Dr. Charles Jlohr, was prepared more than ten 

 years ago by Prof. V. M. Spalding, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; but it was then found that much informa- 

 tion of practical value was still lacking, and hence publication was delayed until the deficiencies 

 could be supplied. I'rofessor Spalding, after having made several revisions, under the pressure 

 of other work had to abandon the idea of amplifying and perfecting the monograph itself, and 

 this was left to the undersigned, with the collaboration of the staff of the Division of Forestry. 



The undersigned is responsible not only for the plan of the work, but especially for the 

 portions referring to forest conditions, forestal treatment, and for the discussion on the rate of 

 growth, to which Mr. Mlodziaiisky also contributed. 



Mr. Filibert Eoth, of the Division, besides furnishing the study ou the wood of the species, 

 has also contributed the portions on the history of the lumbering operations, while the discussion 

 ou the injurious insects is by Mr. F. U. Chittenden, of the Division of Entomology. 



A very comprehensive investigation into the rate of growth of the White Pine has been 

 carried on since 1892 as opportunity afforded and funds permitted. The results of this investiga- 

 tion, comprising the analysis of over seven hundred trees, in the form of tables and notes, will be 

 found in the Appendix. The measurements in the field were mainly executed by Mr. Austin Cary, 

 of Bangor, Me., and by Mr. A. K. Mlodziansky, of the Division. The latter also performed the 

 calculations and tabulations in the Division, and in this work developed a short and satisfactory 

 method of tabulating, analyzing, and using the large mass of data readily for the purpose of 

 summarizing, averaging, and generalization. This method is described in Bulletin No. 20, 

 Division of Forestry. 



The situation regarding White Pine supplies has materially changed since this monograph 

 ■was first conceived, so that it might almost be charged that this publication comes too late. This 

 would be a misconception both as to the situation and the objects of the monograph. No 

 information of any kind could have arrested the decimation of our White Pine supplies, which 

 proceeds through the momentum of economic laws; and even now, when it is well known that a 

 few years will see their exhaustion, no change in the methods of milling with a view to length- 

 ening the sui)plies is contemplated by the manufticturer, who is only concerned in keeping his 

 mill running. Tlie manufacturer is a harvester, not a forest grower. 



The object of this monograph is to lay the basis for an intelligent recuperation of the virgin 

 growth by the forest grower of tlie future, work which will surely be begun presently, but wliich 

 would not have been undertaken ten years ago. 



In the preparation of this monograph use has been made of all available sources of informa- 

 tion. Ackiiowledgments are due to a large number of corrcsiwndents, named in the pioi>er 

 connection, who have rendered valuable aid by contributing notes ou distribution or have assisted 

 in other ways. 



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