LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 



BUREAU OF EDUCATION, 

 Washington, December 8, 1917. 



SIR: Forest trees of all kinds have interest for all people. 

 Familiar and affectionate knowledge of them has culture value of 

 a very fine kind. For the people of some sections of the country a 

 scientific study of the trees of .the forest has much practical and 

 commercial value as well. This is particularly true of the forested 

 region of the Rocky Mountains. I therefore recommend that the 

 accompanying manuscript on the conifers of the northern Rockies, 

 by J. E. Kirkwood, professor of botany in the University of Mon- 

 tana, be published as a bulletin of the Bureau of Education for dis- 

 tribution among the teachers in the schools of this section and for 

 sale in quantities by the Superintendent of Documents for the use 

 of pupils in the schools. There is great need for such a guide for 

 teachers and students in this subject, which, with the help of such 

 a manual as this, will add much to the richness of the school work. 

 It is, I am sure, quite within the province of this bureau to assist 

 in this way the people of the country as a whole, or any part of it, 

 to improve their schools. 

 Respectfully submitted. 



P. P. CLAXTON, 



Commissioner. 

 The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 



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