16 



OFFICE OF 



Laboratory of Forest Pathology 



By a cooperative arrangement with the Bureau of Plant Industry a laboratory of 

 forest pathology has been established in that Bureau, for the study of all problems 

 relating to tree diseases. In order to make this cooperation effective in securing the 

 best possible results, all members of the Forest Service will, in the future, pay par- 

 ticular attention to the occurrence of tree diseases in the Forests. 



Correspondence relating to these matters should be addressed to the Forester, but, 

 in order to avoid delay and possible deterioration of the specimens, which should 

 always accompany the correspondence, they should be sent directly to the Labora- 

 tory of Forest Pathology, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 With each specimen should be sent a slip of paper giving the name of sender, the 

 name of collector, the place and date of collection, and the name of the tree on 

 which the specimen was found. Twigs, small branches, woody fungi, and sections 

 of wood that do not weigh over 4 pounds may be wrapped in paper and mailed. 

 Leaves may be pressed flat until partially dry, and sent in an envelope. Fleshy 

 fungi, which are likely to decay in transit, should either be thoroughly dried before 

 being sent, or should be sent in some preservative liquid such as alcohol or vinegar. 

 Specimens too heavy to be sent by mail should be forwarded by express, charges 

 collect. 



Use of Field L ibraries by Rangers 



In order that rangers may be made more familiar with the books in the field 

 libraries, each supervisor is instructed to send in succession all the books in his 

 library to each ranger, for his inspection or perusal. 



Before starting a book on its rounds, the names of all the rangers who are to 

 use it should be entered on the charge card found in the pocket on the inside of the 

 back cover. If there is not enough space on the front for all of the names to be 

 entered, the back of the card may be used. The book should then be sent to the 

 ranger whose name comes first on the card, to be returned to the supervisor's office 

 when he is through with it. The card should be kept on file by the supervisor, in 

 order that he may know where the book is. As soon as the book is returned by the 

 first borrower, his name should be canceled from the card, and the book sent to the 

 man whose name comes next on 1 the list. The book should be kept in circulation in 

 this way until every ranger has had a chance to see it. 



In entering the names of the rangers on the cards, care should be taken to see that 

 each ranger heads the list for at least one book. If there are more than enough 

 books to go around, two or three books at a time may be loaned to the same man, 

 provided this will not deprive the supervisor of the use of reference books which he 

 may need in connection with his work. Rangers should be instructed to return the 

 books to the supervisor's oftice as promptly as possible after they are through with 

 them. 



The following books are being considered for purchase for field libraries: 



Hodgman's Land Surveying. 



Copp's Land Laws and Decisions. 



Some of the best lumber journals. 



A good abridged dictionary. 

 A decision in regard to these books will be reached within a short time. 



Weather Bureau Records 



During the past month a number of meteorological records by cooperative and 

 voluntary observers of the Weather Bureau have been forwarded through the super- 

 visors to the Forester. These records are not connected with the proposed coopera- 

 tive work between the Forest Service and the Weather Bureau, mentioned in the 

 Field Program for April, and should in all cases be sent directly to the Weather 

 Bureau. 



