484 CONSERVATION 



burg. July i and 2, 1908, for entrance comparatively, is on a par with the 

 September I, 1908. It is the intention others. At the present time it is growing 

 of the Department to limit the number 500. 200 two-year-old and 500,000 one- 

 of students enrolled to thirty, and since year-old white pine seedlings, 

 students to the number of seven out of For the three nurseries, this makes a 

 a total of twenty-nine, which is the total of 1.239,4/5 two-year-old and 

 present enrollment, will complete their 3,350,400 one-year-old white pine seed- 

 course of three years, and will be as- lings, or an aggregate total of 4.589.875 

 signed to work on various reserves white pine seedlings. The Mont Alto 

 September I, there is room for the ad- nursery is the only one in which other 

 mis-ion of only eight students this fall. species are planted to any appreciable 

 For this number of appointments, fifty- extent. Seed beds of Scutch pine con- 

 five applicants took, the examination tain about 150,000 seedlings, but sta- 

 the appointments being given to those tistics of the other species ci>uld not be 

 who attain the highest average in phys- procured separately, 

 ical and mental examinations. Mention must be made of nurseries 



The new dormitory is now completed in charge of rangers on reserves some- 

 ready for occupancy, or rather half of what remote from the large nurseries, 

 the proposed plans have been complet- The ranger was formerly busy only 

 ed. An appropriation of $15.000 had part of the year during the fire season, 

 been received from the legislature of and the remainder of the year he 

 1907, and this proved insufficient for would spend part of his time doing odd 

 the erection of a complete dormitory. jobs which would come under a ran- 

 The Department is awaiting the plea- ger's duty; the remainder of that time 

 ure of the legislature of 1909 for an he could not utili/e in the interests of 

 appropriation for the completion of the his position. The Department, there- 

 dormitory, fore, has seen fit to have rangers who 



Two cla.s-e- have been graduated are located advantageously to prepare 



from the Academy so far. They have beds and plant white pine seeds, the 



been assigned to work on different re- first year generally to the amount of 



serves where the work being done is five pounds. Of course, they get the 



really commendable. proper instruct ion - a- to the making of 



The state has three well-established the beds, time of planting, method of 

 nurseries at the present time, each in planting, etc., and it is proving very 

 charge of a graduate of the Forest profitable, especially in so far as it is a 

 Academy. The Mont Alto nursery is labor-saving proposition for the state 

 the largest seed-bed nursery in the and at the -ame time trains rangers in 

 United States. It is now growing operations subsidiary to their positions. 

 469.895 two-year-old and 2,250.200 thus making them more efficient and 

 hardy two-year-old white pine seed- probably more interested in their work, 

 lings, besides Scotch pine, black wal- These nurseries form the nucleus in 

 nut, European larch, and hard maple. which the foremost policy of the De- 

 which makes a total aggregate of over partment with regard to direct reforest - 

 3,335,000 seedlings. The nursery at ation centers. Natural regeneration is 

 Asaph, Tioga County is making an secured wherever possible, but notwith- 

 equally commendable showing. There standing these operations, it is the in- 

 are at the present time 279,580 two- tcntion of the Department to reforest 

 year-old and 600.000 one-year-old, the denuded hillsides and open space- 

 making a total of 879,579 white pine in the state as speedily as possible. So 

 seedlings in beds in the nursery at the far. planting has been confined princi- 

 present time, besides a small number pally to the eastern part of the state. 

 of other species. < >pen spaces and abandoned farm land 



The nursery at Huntingdon is the constitute the greatest area of accessi- 



smallest of the three, owing principally ble land for planting in eastern Penn- 



to labor conditions. Ikit its showing, sylvania, since lumbering did not re- 



