RESEARCH WORK AND EDUCATIONAL METHODS. 6 I 



to organise systematic scientific research and to disseminate 

 information regarding the mechanical, physical and chemical 

 properties of commercial woods and their products, the utilisa- 

 tion of forest products, the natural and artificial seasoning of 

 wood, wood preservation, wood distillation, the production of 

 paper pulp, naval stores and other chemical products. It also 

 compiles statistics of production, consumption, prices and market 

 conditions, investigates commercial methods of manufacture, 

 of grading, and utilisation, and the possibilities of substitution 

 of new species or other materials for woods which are be- 

 coming scarce, etc., etc. The range of the investigations of 

 the Products Branch covers every industry which is in any way 

 dependent on the forest for its raw material. The work is thus 

 of the greatest economic value, and the results already obtained 

 are doing more than almost any other agency to educate the 

 timber trade at large in a proper appreciation of scientific 

 forestry. 



The organisation of the branch is as follows : 



(a) The Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, 

 (/») The Office of Wood Utilisation at Chicago, 

 both co-ordinated under the direction of the chief of the branch 

 who reports direct to Washington, D.C. 



In addition to this the whole country is divided up into- 

 districts, and an officer of the Products Branch is stationed at a 

 central point in each district, in order to enable the branch to 

 keep in close touch with the principal timber associations and 

 wood-using industries of each district. 



Before the commencement of any research project, a working- 

 plan as complete in detail as possible is insisted on. This, 

 working-plan is submitted by the head of the department 

 concerned to a committee composed of all the heads of 

 departments in the Products Branch. The need for the 

 investigation, present knowledge of the subject, the proposed 

 method of procedure, with plans of any instruments required,, 

 the probable cost, etc., etc., are all laid before the committee. 

 The project after full discussion and criticism is revised and 

 finally passed on by the chief of the branch for similar con- 

 sideration by a committee composed of the heads of the Forest 

 Service Departments at Washington, D.C. 



Although this occasions some delay in beginning the 

 work, the method has been found to be most satisfactory^ 



