The Fore it Ranger 



33 



blazes the tree near the Kfound aiitl 

 stamps the spot T.S. ' A serond blaze 

 hi^'licr up is a<l(l«'d to assist the cut- 

 ters in locating tlifir tiinluT, rspc- 

 eially when \\w ^Tound is (l«M«ply 

 covered with snow. 



Wliih? the timber io bein« cut, the 

 ranj^er scales the lojjs and sees that 

 the purchaser complies fully with 

 the terms of the contract, anions 

 which arc that all stumps be etit 

 low. that all mcrcliantabl«> timber be 

 utilized, that needless waste and 

 dama>?e be avoided and that the 

 tree tops be so disposed of by lop- 

 ping; close to the ground, or scat- 

 tering, or piling and burning as to 

 reduce the dnnirer from subsequent 

 fire. 



No mineral, homestead or other 

 entry within a National Forest goes 

 to patent until the ranger or other 

 government otficer has investigated 

 thoroughly and submits a report 

 showing that the law has been sub- 

 stantially complie<l with. Timber de- 

 predations and grazing trespass are 

 also investigated atid reported. Such 

 duties require thorough knowledge 

 of the (}overnn)ent land laws and 

 test a man's abilitv to obtain com- 

 petent evidence.- Only the liw vio- 

 lator or evader has aught to fear 

 from the ranger, who is at all times 

 willing to advise and assist the bona 

 fide prospector, miner ar.d home- 

 builder. 



On many National Forests consid- 

 erable tn'c planting is being don«'. 

 On the Kansas and Nebraska For- 

 ests the men's time is devoted al- 

 most exclusively to nursery and 

 planting work. On the Ocala and 

 Choetawhatehee in Florida, turpen- 

 tine orcharding is the principal 

 source of n'venue and demands niost 

 attention. On the Wichita National 

 Forest and Game Refuge in Okla- 

 homa, earing for the big herd of 

 bison is the important work. The 

 bison's greatest enemy is the Texas 

 fever transmitted by the bite of 

 Texas fever ticks. To guard against 

 ticks the pastures are burned over 

 annually, and no cattle or other 



Htcek ar:* allowed within the inclo- 

 Hures. At friM|ucnt iotcrvaU the 

 game warden examines each animal 

 through a Held glasn and the ores- 

 ence of a Mingle tick t>f any kind 

 means a shower bath of erutle oil for 

 the entire herd. 



(luarding the ForestN from fire is 

 the first and foremost duty of every 

 forest officer, for without ade<|uate 

 fire protection future tree growth is 

 extremely uncertain. (Suards and 

 fire-patrolmen are employed durinf? 

 the <langer season, fire lines or paths 

 are constructed, watch towers built, 

 telephone lines strung up. trails 

 opened to places that are difficult 

 of a<'ecss. tool stations established, 

 and various other precautions taken 

 to locate and quickly suppress fires. 

 Should the wireless telephone prove 

 a success it will play an important 

 part in rea<ly communication over 

 the National Forests. Fire fighting 

 is the hardest and most disagreeable 

 work a ranger has to do, and good 



Scaling Timber in UJI. National Forest. 



