1 9 oo. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 17 



"Forest fires" was $4,306.09, or 15.1 per 1,200,000 acres have not been examined, 



cent, of the total appropriation. 'During During the ensuing year these tracts will 



July and August, 1899, about 1000 addi- be considered as fast as the force of the 



tional records have been obtained, so that Division will permit, and working plans 



the total is now considerably more than will be made for a selected number. One 



5000. Field work was in progress in four or more of the working plans already in 



States. A special study of reforestation preparation will be printed, 

 on burnt land is in progress in the Medi- In addition to the completion of the 



cine Bow Mountains of Colorado, and work on the Loblolly Pine and the Spruce 



promises most interesting results. of the eastern Adirondacks and the con- 



A series of studies of North American tinuation of work on the other trees 



forests by experts, with special knowledge already undertaken, the intention is to 



of definite localities, has been undertaken begin the study of the Coast Redwood in 



during the year, and it is expected that California without delay, and later, if 



three of them will be ready for the printer money enough can be saved for that pur- 



during the coming winter. Part of this pose, to take up the White Oak and the 



work is in cooperation with the United Hickories. 



States Geological Survey. From the char- In addition to the studies now under way 



acter of the contributors to this series re- in economic tree planting, the work for 



suits of permanent value are confidently the present year will consist largely, first, 



expected. in giving practical assistance to tree 



Historical studies of progress in forestry planters in the selection of the right trees 



were begun for New Jersey, Massachu- to plant and in planting them rightly, and, 



setts and other States, and practically com- second, in an attempt to determine in defi- 



pleted for New York. During July and nite figures the true effect of bare and 



August, 1899, mucn material was col- wooded or brush-covered slopes on the 



lected fora general account of the progress run-off of streams. This problem is a 



of forestry in the United States, and of the difficult one, but it is believed that facts 



practical application of conservative forest of real value may be brought to light, 



treatment in this country until now, which The vastness of the interests affected by 



is much more frequent than is usually sup- the solution will justify the most persistent 



posed. In photographic forest description and careful work. 



of the United States noteworthy progress The field work and other lines of effort 



has been made during the year, although already begun are to be continued, 



far less than is hoped for in the present Further results from the studies of North 



twelve months. The collection is now in American forests and of forest history are 



a position to grow rapidly and systemati- expected during the year, 

 cally. It has absorbed 1.4 per cent, of The extension of the historical work on 



the total appropriation, or about the same forest fires to States not yet reached is 



amount as sundries and contingent ex- urgently required, and field work will be 



penses. Altogether the Section of Special carried on in -the States where it is already 



Investigations has consumed 21 per cent. in progress, and in special localities in the 



of the total appropriation. Southeastern United States. The collec- 



No further readjustment of the work of tion of photographs will receive much at- 



the Division, and but slight addition to its tention during the winter, 

 personnel, will be required during the en- GIFFORD PINCHOT. 



suing year. All the lines of work it is 

 proposed to follow during 1899-1900, ex- 

 cept the watershed investigation, were The financial benefits of forestry are 



either fully organized or well begun in evidently understood by the railroad com- 



1898-99. P an y which, in Indiana, has set out a 



Of the total amount of land submitted whole trainload of selected Catalpa trees, 



to the Division for working plans, about from which at maturity to cut ties. 



