FOREST INVESTIGATIONS. 27 



(b) Seedling development Time of germination and appearance of 

 seedlings. Conditions which are favorable or detrimental to germi- 

 nation and early development of the seedling. 



(c) Sprouting From stump, root, or both; vigor and permanence 

 of sprouts. 



7. Susceptibility to injury: Effect of wind, frost, lightning, fire, 

 etc., on eacn species. Effect of grazing, giving the nature of the bene- 

 fit or injury. Liability of the species to attack by fungi and parasitic 

 plants, discussing fully any special instances of vegetable parasitism. 

 Liability to insect attack, discussing fully any special instances of 

 insect infestations. Injurious and beneficial effects of animals and 

 birds. 



This general study on each Forest should be conducted by the forest 

 assistant with the cooperation of other members of the force. It 

 should be cumulative, the results recorded being corrected or extended 

 as additional data are secured. Its aim is to make available in con- 

 crete form on each Forest all of the silvical information accumulated 

 by the members of the Service working upon the Forest. The forest 

 assistant or other officers on the Forest may be called upon from time 

 to time by the district forester to submit reports, either embodying 

 all of the general results secured to date or dealing with special 

 topics under the general study. 



CUT-OVER AREAS. 



Studies of cut-over areas should be conducted as far as practicable 

 on every Forest where timber sales have been made. 

 Their object is to determine the best methods of 

 management to use in different types in order to secure natural repro- 

 duction and the maximum production of wood. Records should 

 therefore be kept of as many areas as possible in different types which 

 have been cut under different systems of management. Such studies 

 should be conducted by any competent man, although special atten- 

 tion should be paid to them by the forest assistants. 



The following outline should be covered : 



(Case designation and date of examination.) 



1. Original cutting area: Location, date, altitude, slope, soil, 

 ground cover, forest (age, conditions, special features), method of cut- 

 ting, stand left, burns, grazing, brush, reproduction. 



2. Results of cutting: (a) Soil changes Duff, litter, underbrush, 

 grass, erosion. 



(6) Stand changes Growth, windfall, death, insects, fire, grazing. 



(c) Reproduction Increase, species, distribution, damage, inferior 

 species, seed production (seed trees). 



(d) Miscellaneous Stream flow, range conditions, etc. 



Ordinarily the forest description contained in Form 578 a accom- 

 panying the timber sale will be sufficient, but should be supple- 

 mented whenever necessary. Since the cut-over area reports are 

 filed separately, they should be accompanied either by the original 

 forest description or a reference to it. This portion of the report will 

 be necessary only in the first examination. Subsequent examina- 

 tions should be made as often as necessary to follow closely all 

 changes that take place on the area, usually at intervals of not more 



