of plants at about 1.5 millions and about half a mil- 

 lion of these now of two years growth. 



The season of 1905 was a most excellent one, not 

 only for nursery and plantations, but also for the 

 natural re-stocking which is taking place all over the 

 Reserve. Young trees are springing up everywhere 

 in surprising number, though unfortunately the re- 

 production of pine and other conifers (except Tama- 

 rack, cedar and other swamp timbers) is still quite 

 slow owing to the lack of seed trees, practically all of 

 the old trees having been removed or destroyed by fire. 



The growth of existing timber, benefited by the 

 good season, and acres of land where but a sparse 

 growth of small, scattering sprouts of oak existed a 

 few years ago, are fast growing into compact stands 

 of decidedly "woodsy" appearance. 



As offset to the excellent season, came considerable 

 insect depredation. The oaks suffered from leaf- 

 eating insects in nearly all parts of the Reserves, and 

 the Tamarack was seriously infested by the larvae of 

 the Tamarack saw-fly which practically defoliated 

 many of the older stands. This latter trouble is 

 likely to return and steps are taken to begin the ex- 

 ploitation of such stands as seem especially exposed to 

 this danger. 



The question is sometimes asked, Why plant, why 

 not sow? Why not leave the matter to Nature alto- 

 gether? As regards sowing and planting, it may be 

 said that both methods will be used as soon as good 

 seed can be had cheap enough to make sowing the 

 cheaper method. With Norway pine seed quoted at 

 $7.00 per pound, one is slow to scatter pounds and 

 pounds of seed per acre with the full understanding 

 that about 95 per cent of the seed is eaten up or falls 

 where it can do no good. 



As regards the artificial re-stocking, on the whole r 

 years of observation have convinced everyone at all 

 conversant with the conditions here dealt with that 

 the law was wisely framed when it demands that act- 

 ive effort be made to help Nature. Man has de- 

 stroyed here long enough; it is time to help. Of the 

 thousands of acres practically bare of any forest growth, 

 a large part would remain bare and unproductive for 

 many decades and yet every section of bare land re- 

 quires protection against fire, costs money to survey, 

 to travel over, to build roads through, in short, adds 

 to the cost of management. It is clear, therefore, that 

 the sooner these lands be made productive, the better 

 and the more economical. It is exactly the case of 

 the farm; neglected fields, patches of wasteland save 

 lots of money, they cost no plowing, no sowing; but 

 they also cost no reaping and the farmer owning them 

 is rarely praised for his economy. 



Survey and Classification of the Lands 



The law r creating the forest reserves prescribes that 

 the lands shall be surveyed and examined. Occa- 

 sionally the wisdom of doing so is called in question. 

 "What is the use of spending money to survey lands 

 that have so little value?" To appreciate this work 

 it is necessary to keep in mind the present condition 

 of the lands and the work to be done in their care and 

 improvement. The survey of most of these lands 

 was made about fifty years ago. At that time the 

 lines were amply "blazed"* on the forest trees abun- 

 dant everywhere. The corners were set and witness 

 or bearing trees were given the large, conspicuous 

 marks prescribed by the U. S. Land Office rules and 

 laws. After this came the era of lumbering, the large 

 trees were cut, the cutting had little or no regard for 

 line trees and monuments, for in only too many cases 



