NATIONAL FOREST WORK 



375 



"The cooperative planting at the Belle- 

 fourche Experiment station has not been 

 planned as extensively as that at Akron. All 

 the planting in connection with the dry farm 

 work was done in the spring of 1909 when 

 3,400 trees were planted. The species, quantity 

 of trees used, and the results obtained at 

 the Bellefourche Station are indicated in the 

 following table : 



so as to form complete stand and test out 

 thoroughly the development of the various 

 species under these conditions. 



"The experimental plots were given the 

 very best of care and cultivated as thoroughly 

 as any of the other crops grown at the sta- 

 tion. It must be remembered that the season 

 both at the Bellefourche and Akron stations 

 was above the seasonal average, and this fact 



Table Shoiving the Result of Experimental Planting at the Bellefourche Experiment Farm, 



Bellefourche, S. Dak. 



The average height at end of growing season is less than height of stock at beginning but is due to the fact that 

 the trees were cut back severely at time of planting. 



"It will be noted that the results are excep- 

 tionally good and are decidedly better than 

 those obtained at Akron. The better results 

 are probably due to the fact that the plant 

 material was in better condition and perhaps 

 handled more carefully after arriving. Ordi- 

 narily, the stand secured is sufficiently satis- 

 factory to dispense with replanting of any 

 of the plots, but it is the intention to replant 



must be borne in mind when considering the 

 results of the experiment. However, there is 

 no doubt that tree growing can be made 

 very successful under dry farm conditions 

 if the land owner is led to fully realize that 

 it is absolutely necessary to give the trees as 

 much care as the most valuable crop on his 

 farm." 



Railroads to Cooperate in Fire Control 



Secretary Wilson has signed a mem- 

 orandum of agreement with the Great 

 Northern Railway Company, and also one 

 with the Northern Pacific Railway Company, 

 which provides for cooperation of the Forest 

 Service and the railroads to prevent damage 

 to the national forests from fires along all 

 lines operated by these railroads. These 

 agreements had already been signed by R. I. 



Harrington, vice-president of the Great 

 Northern, and Howard Elliott, president of 

 the Northern Pacific, so that they are, by the 

 signature of the Secretary of 'Agriculture, 

 now in force. 



The agreements have in view both the 

 reduction to the lowest point of the fire risk 

 from the operation of the railroads and joint 

 action by the Forest Service and the rail- 

 roads to fight all fires which may start along 

 the lines. The companies agree to clear and 



