6 FORESTRY ALMANAC 



Laboratory, maintained for research work in connection with the 

 University of Wisconsin at Madison, and investigation is carried on 

 at other forest experimentation stations. 



Branch of Operation 



Under this branch of the Forest Service is placed general super- 

 vision of the finances, personnel, quarters and supplies and equipment 

 of the Service. It administers the moneys allotted for the various 

 purposes of the work. It exercises a check on the wide variety of 

 equipment necessary, from blueprints to fire lookout towers. It 

 supervises the quarters allotted to the Service in Washington and in 

 the field. This branch also has charge of all of the work in the nature 

 of permanent improvement carried on in the National Forests. For 

 the purpose of fighting fires, watch stations, ranger stations and tele- 

 phone lines are necessary. Public camp grounds, places for watering 

 stock and many other improvements of general or specific public 

 benefit are installed. All of these activities are centred in the hands 

 of this branch. 



Branch of Forest Management 



The work of supervising the sale and cutting of timber on the 

 National Forests is entrusted to this branch of the Service. Within 

 the area of the forests there is considerable denuded land fitted only 

 for forest production. The task of reforesting this acreage is placed 

 in the hands of this branch. It also carries on cooperation with the 

 states in protecting the forest resources under the terms of the Weeks 

 Law, administering the financial provisions of the act for cooperative 

 contributions of funds for fire-protection on the watersheds of navi- 

 gable streams. 



Branch of Grazing 



To this branch is given supervision of the grazing of about seven 

 million sheep and goats and two million cattle and swine on National 

 Forest land every year. Settlers and stockmen of the vicinity are 

 given the first opportunity to use this resource under permit. The 

 administrative branch has charge of issuing these permits, regulating 

 the grazing against overcrowding, and conducting work of research 

 and practice in improving grazing areas. Investigations are carried on 



