132 DEPARTMENTAL REfOETS. 



Supplies.— With the exception of $400 from the contingent fund of 

 the Department, all furniture, typewriting machines, stationery, and 

 supplies of all kinds have been purchased from the funds appropri- 

 ated for the Bureau of Forestry. This expenditure was 110,200.74, or 

 5.5 per cent of the total appropriation. 



Accounts. — At the beginning of the fiscal year 1902 a system of 

 accounts was introduced, the principal object of which, in connection 

 with the proper preparation and handling of vouchers for the pay- 

 ment of salaries and expenses, was to furnish at all times an accurate, 

 comprehensive, and permanent record of the condition of the appro- 

 priation for the expenses of the Bureau, and of the several allotments 

 made by letters of authorization for the traveling expenses of mem- 

 bers of the Bureau engaged in field work. A system setting forth in 

 detail the allotments and liabilities of every class has been submitted 

 at the end of each month to the chief of the Bureau. 



Tree Planting. 



The work of this section has broadened steadily during the past 

 year. Cooperation with forest planters under the provisions of Cir- 

 cular No. 22 was widely extended, met with a high degree of public 

 appreciation, and remains the most important work with which the 

 section is charged. Other lines of work of equal promise originated 

 during the year. The first National reserves for the distinct purpose 

 of forest planting were established. It was fairly proved that some 

 lands, hitherto considered incapable of doing so, will stock themselves 

 without planting, if well directed assistance is given to the natural 

 reproductive power. The reclamation of the coast sand dunes by 

 forest planting was for the first time undertaken by the Bureau. 



COOPERATIVE PLANTING. 



On June 30, 1901, there had been received in response to the offer 

 of cooperation with forest planters, announced in Circular No. 22, a 

 total of 192 applications for assistance. For 173 applicants planting 

 plans had been prepared, in the course of which 113,842.3 acres were 

 examined. Probably 10 per cent of this area will be planted within 

 twelve or fifteen years, but the detailed plans, made in consequence of 

 the examinations, covered but 3,057 acres, which is the area to be 

 planted within three or four years from the date of the plans. Where 

 the planting was not extensive, in many cases it is now complete and 

 in others it is near completion, for many landowners began planting 

 at once on receipt of their plans. 



This planting has generally given satisfactory results. For exam- 

 ple, at Fowler, Kans., the main part of a wood lot of 12 acres has been 

 established without losing a single tree. At Enid, Okla., satisfactory 

 results were obtained in establishing a wood lot of 5 acres. In a few 

 instances the planting has been temporarily deferred, and in two 

 cases the agreements have been canceled because they could not be 

 carried out by the owners. 



During the past fiscal year 70 applications for assistance were 

 received and 51 planting plans were made. There was examined fia 

 area of 83,596.9 acres, a large percentage of which is subject to plant- 

 ing. The area actually covered by the plans made during the year, 

 and to be planted within the next two or three years, is 3,417.67 acres. 



