LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



DIVISION OP FORESTRY, 

 Washington, D. G., March 15, 1898. 



SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith for publication a monograph on 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 No. 13, Division of Forestry), by Dr. Charles Mohr, was prepared more than ten 

 years ago by Prof. V. M. Spalding, of Anu 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. Professor 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. Mlodziansky also contributed. 



Mr. Filibert Roth, of the Division, besides furnishing the study on the wood of the species, 

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

 on the injurious insects is by Mr. F. H. Chitteuden, 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 Gary, 

 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 supplies is contemplated by the manufacturer, who is only concerned in keeping his 

 mill running. The 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 the future, work which will surely be begun presently, but which 

 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. Acknowledgments are due to a large number of correspondents, named in the proper 

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

 in other ways. 



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