8 INSECTS WHICH KILL, FOREST TREES. 



from this source, amounting to an average of some 300,000 board feet 

 annually, has been reduced to a minimum. 



These results mark the most important events in the control of 

 forest insects in this country and serve as striking demonstrations of 

 what can be accomplished when cooperative efforts are directed along 

 the proper lines and based on the results of scientific investigation. 

 The attainment of these results was due to three important factors: 

 First, a knowledge of the insects on which the recommendations by 

 the Bureau of Entomology were based ; second, a knowledge of local 

 conditions and requirements and of the habits of the insects in rela- 

 tion to newly infested trees, which enabled a forest ranger to locate 

 the infested trees and give instructions to the forest officials in regard 

 to such locations and the essential details in the recommendations; 

 third, a prompt and proper practical application by the Forest Serv- 

 ice of the recommendations according to improved forestry methods 

 to meet the requirements of a forestry problem. 



Ten years ago it would have been absolutely impossible to have 

 accomplished this result, owing to the utter lack of knowledge of the 

 first two of these features, and at the present time it would have 

 been impossible without the assistance of the Forest Service. 



CONTROL OF THE MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE. 



A very threatening outbreak of the mountain pine beetle was lo- 

 cated, in 1909, in the Snowy Mountains section of Montana, adjacent 

 to and within the Jefferson National Forest, involving, at the time, 

 more than 1,500 infested and dying trees. The infestation included 

 timber on the National Forest, public domain, state lands, and private 

 lands, thus involving a complication of federal, state, and private 

 interests with which to deal in securing the required action. The 

 case was so successfullj^ managed that an agent of the Bureau, Mr. 

 Josef Brunner, was placed in complete charge to carry out the recom- 

 mendations and instructions of this Bureau, and, through the aid of 

 the Forest Service, state officials, and private owners, 1,355 infested 

 trees were cut and barked to kill the broods of beetles. The cutting 

 was started about June 15, 1909, and was completed about July 24 

 of the same j^ear. Four hundred and twenty-two trees were cut at 

 private expense, 783 at the expense of the Forest Service, and the re- 

 mainder by local owners. The average cost for felling and removing 

 the bark from the infested portion of the trunk was 30 cents per tree. 



Early in December, 1909, a careful examination was made of the 

 area for evidence of new infestation. It was found that, while some 

 56 trees had been attacked by the mountain pine beetle, the broods 

 were being destroyed by woodpeckers and other natural enemies, and 

 that, therefore, the efforts to control the beetle depredations were a 

 complete success, 



[Cir. 125] 



