A Summer's Work on a Forest 

 Service Experiment Station 



A. S. HENRY, B. S. P. 



The question often comes up in the mind of the student of 

 Forestry, as to what branch or phase of his profession he will 

 specialize in. During the last f5w years the growth of Forestry 

 as a profession has been rapid and from the comparatively limited 

 field of a few years ago, it has developed into an occupation of 

 many and broad possibilities. The lumberman is coming to see 

 that his timber supply will become exhausted unless closer utiliza- 

 tion is practised. The steam and electric railroads and the tele- 

 phone and telegraph companies are beginning to realize the great 

 saving that will be effected by the use of preservative treated 

 wood. The cities are becoming aware of the value of their 

 park and shade trees and the necessity of conserving them. 

 The Government Forest Service attracts perhaps more men of 

 the forestry profession than does any other single field of activity. 

 One of the most important as well as interesting branches of 

 Forest Service work is that carried on at the various Government 

 Experiment Stations. 



A field season spent in practical work gives a student an oppor- 

 tunity to judge of the possibilities his training offers. A sum- 

 mer spent on experimental work gives one a glimpse of the value 

 and economic application that such work has. The Utah Ex- 

 periment station, located near Ephraim, Utah, on the Manti 

 National Forest, is typical of this kind of work. 



It seems to be the accepted view of some, who view the forest 

 from a lumber producing standpoint solely, that the grazing in- 

 dustry is a necessary evil, rather than one of great importance. 

 That this idea is erroneous can readily be seen, from the fact 

 that approximately one-half the revenue derived from the forest 

 service is secured from grazing fees. 



The live stock industry is one of the main sources of wealth 

 ir> the locality of the Utah Experiment Station. The Manti Na- 

 tional Forest forms the summer range for a large number of sheep 

 and cattle. The lumber industry is of less importance, the reve- 

 nue received from grazing fees much exceeding that obtained 

 from timber sales. 



Before this region was converted into a national forest reserve, 

 it was grazed as were many other localities in the western country, 

 ruthlessly and with no thought of the future value of the range. 

 Each owner was desirous of securing the best grazing ground 

 for his flock of sheep and the consequent struggle which ensued 



