352 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



September, 



Forest Tree The New York Forest, 

 Nurseries in Fish, and Game Commis- 

 New York, sion has decided to estab- 

 lish state nurseries for 

 the propagation of seedling trees which 

 are to be used in reforesting denuded 

 lands in the state forest preserve, and for 

 free distribution throughout the state. 



The commission has already estab- 

 lished a forest tree nursery in the Cats- 

 kill region at a place near Brown Station, 

 on the Ulster and Delaware Railroad. 

 This nursery, which is favorably located 

 as regards slope, exposure, and climatic 

 conditions, is planned for the raising of 

 two million seedlings, the beds and rows 

 being laid out accordingly. A large 

 number of different species are planted 

 there, and this nursery will be used to 

 meet the demands for free distribution. 



Work on a much larger nursery will 

 be commenced this fall on lands selected 

 for the purpose at Saranac Inn Station, 

 on the Adirondack Division of the New 

 York Central Railroad. At this point 

 there is a clearing of about six acres on 

 which farming operations have been 

 carried on for several years, leaving the 

 soil in good condition for nursery pur- 

 poses. This clearing is closely sur- 

 rounded on all sides by a tall forest, 

 which will afford protection and shelter 

 from unfavorable weather conditions. 



The soil will be carefully prepared 

 this fall and made into beds of suitable 

 size. The commission expects to carry 

 about three million seedlings in this 

 nursery at all times, and, in addition, 

 to set out enough transplants for their 

 work in reforestation. In case a larger 

 number is required for this work the area 

 of the nursery can be easily enlarged. 



While the product of the Catskill 

 nursery will be mainly used for free 

 distribution, the Adirondack nursery 

 will be devoted almost entirely to the 

 propagation of seedlings to be used in 

 the silvicultural work planned by the 

 commission. The intention at present 

 is to raise only White Pine and Red 

 Spruce in the Saranac nursery, as it 

 seems advisable to first give the native 

 species a fair trial. 



Two parties, each in charge of a pro- 

 fessional forester in the employ of the 

 commission, are now traversing the 



woods in search of seed cones, which 

 must be gathered in the autumn or early 

 fall before the scales open. The for- 

 esters were instructed to secure several 

 hundred bushels of cones, if possible, 

 but, as this is not a seed year for White 

 Pine or Red Spruce, it is doubtful if 

 they will be able to secure much seed 

 this fall. 



A neat and attractive building will be 

 erected, in which the forester in charge 

 will reside permanently. It will con- 

 tain a loft for the preparation, care, and 

 storage of seeds, while part of the 

 ground floor will be utilized as a tool- 

 house and for storage purposes. 



Commencing three j^ears ago, the 

 commission began tree planting, and 

 has continued the work each successive 

 season. Last spring over half a million 

 seedlings were set out on the denuded 

 and burned lands near Lake Clear Junc- 

 tion, Franklin county. This work was 

 done under the personal direction of 

 Foresters Knechtel and Pettis, who em- 

 ployed sixty-three men for more than a 

 month. At this date very few of the 

 young trees set out last spring have 

 died, the loss being less than one per 

 cent. The plantation was visited re- 

 cently by the Ways and Means Com- 

 mittee of the Legislature, who expressed 

 themselves as well pleased with the 

 work. 



Examination An examination of civil 

 of Engineers. and hydraulic engineers 

 will be held at an early 

 date to secure additional men for the 

 service of the U. S. Geological Survey. 

 The men selected will be used as assist- 

 ant engineers and hydrographers in 

 connection with the survey of the water 

 resources of the country, and also in the 

 reclamation work in the West. Persons 

 desiring particulars concerning the com- 

 ing examination can secure the same by 

 addressing the Civil Ser\-ice Commis- 

 sion, Washington, D. C. 



J- 



Mr. A. A. Anderson, 

 Superintendent of the 

 Teton and Yellowstone 

 Forest Reserves, has 

 just completed a tour of these extensive 



News from 

 the Forest 

 Reserves. 



