INSECTS WHICH KILL FOREST TREES. 9 



The examples of practical control given above have demonstrated at 

 least two important facts : One, that extensive outbreaks by two of the 

 most destructive bark-beetle enemies of the pine timber of the Rocky 

 Mountain forests can be controlled at moderate expense when the tim- 

 ber is not accessible for utilization, or at a profit whenever the condi- 

 tions are favorable for the utilization of the infested timber; the other, 

 that the essential details of the recommendations and expert advice, 

 based on the results of scientific research, can be successfully applied by 

 a manager of a private forest or by the rangers of national and state 

 forests. Furthermore, these results indicate quite conclusively that 

 the widespread depredations in the Black Hills National Forest could 

 have been prevented with very little expense to the Government if the 

 matter had received prompt attention in 1901, when the first investi- 

 gations were made and essentially the same recommendations sub- 

 mitted as in the cases mentioned. Failure to do so was through the 

 lack of public appreciation of the importance of the problem at the 

 time and the lack of sufficient authority and funds later. Therefore 

 the outbreak was allowed to extend beyond practical control, and in 

 consequence a large percentage of the timber of the entire National 

 Forest has been killed. There were then no forcible examples of the 

 practical value of recommendations based on scientific research, and 

 no other argument was effective in arousing public interest in the 

 threatening character of the outbreak or confidence in the advice and 

 methods of control. Now that the practicability of controlling the 

 most destructive insect enemies of North American forests has been 

 demonstrated, this should lead to a more general interest in the subject 

 and confidence in the results of scientific research as a basis for success 

 in practical application. 



Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agnculture. 

 Washington, D. C, October 7, 1910. 



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