394 TIMBER EESOUECES OF- STATES. 



extent the amount of our resources in forest products. In reference 

 to the statistics of the census, they do not pretend to give areas ex- 

 cept as occupied for farming purposes, and in the general aggregate 

 they leave nearly two billions of acres not accounted, for. The percent- 

 ages given in the preceding tables show the risk we run in taking them 

 as representing absolute quantities. 



The sources of our information, in the following statements, it will be 

 seen, include facts reported in geological and other surveys and explora- 

 tions, geographical and historical accounts, correspondence, and statis- 

 tics obtained through the agency of State governments, or the enter- 

 prise of those conducting business journals. 



Early in the course of these inquiries, circulars, with specific inquiries, 

 were addres^d, asking for information within the line of their own ob- 

 servation, and embracing in business matters the results gf their own 

 experience, as follows : 



1. To nurserymen and others engaged in raising and planting trees. 



2. To tanners, and manufacturers of tanning extract. 



3. To superintendents of railroads, and others engaged in construct- 

 ing or supplying such roads. 



4. To owners and managers of furnaces, forges, and other establish- 

 ments using charcoal as fuel. 



5. To botanists, entomologists, and other observers in natural history. 



A special blank for returning lists of native and introduced forest- 

 trees, their relative abundance and size, with notices of the results of ex- 

 periments in the introduction of new species, and such facts of economi- 

 cal or scientific interests as might be known by those reporting. "" 



Several thousands of these circulars were sent out, and large numbers 

 were returned, carefully filled up by correspondents, and, for the most part, 

 evidently with scrupulous care and fidelity. Some of these facts have been 

 already presented, but, so far as they relate to the geographical range 

 of species and other matters of most value when carefully classified and 

 generalized, they are too incomplete for present use. Many of these 

 facts, such as limits of greatest abundance, and of possible growth, can 

 best be shown npon maps, and other facts by tabular representation. 

 These data, and those embraced in returns from a circular previously 

 issued by the Department of Agriculture,^ will be made available to 

 science, in such manner as may hereafter appear most efl'ectual. 



' lu the spring of 1876 a circular of a somewhat general character was addressed to 

 the correspondents of the Department, and about 1,100 were returned. Attention was 

 called, in this, to the kind and quantity of timber, cord-wood, or other material 

 yielded by forests per acre, either as averages for the country, or as specified areas of the 

 best-wooded forests. It called for immediate return, and time was therefore not al- 

 lowed for inquiry. The replies were accordingly, for the most part, individual esti- 

 mates, but a large number bore evidence of careful preparation and extensive knowl- 

 edge upon the subjects reported. Thf se returns were used, in part, in the preparation 

 of an article upon forestry, published in the Eeport of the Department of Agriculture 

 for 1875 (pp. 244 to 35^), in connection with census data, and facts from other sources. 



A considerable amount of information which they aiibrded was not published in the 

 abstract referred to, but the entire series has been carefully examined by us, and every 

 fact which the returns aflbrd has been noted for such further use as may be found 

 practicable. Ample corresjiondence has been had in reference to uncertain points, and 

 through these several agencies of inquiry a very extended list has been prepared of 

 the names of those known to take an interest in forestry, and who are both able and 

 ■willing to co-operate in contributing facts and experience for its advancement. 



In the present report the data returned upon the circulars last referred to have not 

 been used, as other materials deemed of interest appeared to claim precedence, and a limit 

 had been placed upon the exteut of the volume. 



These unpublished data chiefly tend to show by estimate the character and extent 

 of our timber and lumber resources, and the industries depending npon the production 

 tuid use of forest products, the profits that, may be realized from their cultivation, or 



