194 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 
Wisconsin, where the majority of the research in forest pro- 
ducts is conducted. 'The main purpose of the Laboratory is 
to promote economy and efficiency in the utilization of 
wood and in the processes by which forest materials are 
converted into commercial products. The Forest Service 
now maintains eight forest experiment stations each in 
a different forest region, one of which is located on the 
Manti National Forest in central Utah. At these stations, 
the Forest Service studies the biology of the forest trees, the 
relation of tree life to the environment, the ecology of virgin 
forests, ecological succession, forest protection, forest in- 
fluences and the more highly scientific range investigations. 
Such really scientific problems as the effect of the forest 
upon the climatic factors, i. e., the temperature of the air, 
wind, soil moisture and humidity of the air, are being 
studied by means of frequent and thorough instrumental 
observations. The long-time studies of the effect of the 
source of seed upon the resulting trees and the physiological 
characteristics of forest tree seeds are also centered at or 
near the forest experiment station. 
Time has not permitted the entering into any amount 
of detail in connection with the discussion of any of the 
above-mentioned lines of investigation, all of which are 
being pursued by the Federal Forest Service as aggressively 
as funds will permit. No attempt has been made at this 
time to present the actual results of the researches of the 
Forest Service, which may be secured in the detail desired 
by consulting the numerous publications of the Forest Ser- 
vice and the annual reports of the Forester. With this 
general survey of forest conservation, forestry as a natural 
science, and the more important problems of forest research 
confronting the Forest Service, it can be seen that the 
monetary value of scientific research in forestry is en- 
ormous indeed, that forest research in the United States is 
still in its infancy, and that, as one of the youngest branches 
of scientific research, it has a Herculean task before it. 
