BUBEAU OF POEESTEY. 515 



of controlling their ravages. One station was established in llie 

 Southern Longleaf Pine belt (Tryon, N. C.) and one in the Rrd Fir 

 and Yellow Pine forest of Washington (Iloqniam), at which detailed 

 studies and experiments which have already been of use were carried 

 on. Much helpful advice was given to individual owners of timber 

 tracts. Studies of and recommendations for the disposal of beetle- 

 killed timber of the Black Hills Forest Reserve are notably important. 

 Special chapters on the insects affecting the Red Fir, Western Hem- 

 lock, and Coast Redwood, and a Yearbook article (1902) entitled 

 "Some of the principal insect enemies of coniferous forests in the 

 United States," were prepared. Studies were likewise made of insects 

 affecting commercial Pines and Cypress of iSTorth Carolina, South 

 Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Texas, Pine and Fir in the Black Hills, 

 Priest River, and Olympic Forest reserves, Hickory in Michigan, Pine 

 forests in New Mexico, tree Yuccas in southern California, Redwoods 

 in California, Tanbark Oak in California, and Sitka Spruce and Giant 

 Cedar in Washington. 



Girdling experiments were applied to several hundred Pine trees in 

 the Black Hills, South Dakota; to Yellow Pine and Cypress at Tryon 

 and Boardman, N. C. ; also, to Red Fir, Sitka Spruce, Giant Cedar, and 

 Hemlock in Washington (lloquiam), resulting in the accumulation of 

 data which will be of special value in recommending methods for 

 preventing losses. Excellent results are predicted. 



At current stumpage values and wholesale prices of commercial 

 products the annual loss from forest insect depredations is estimated 

 to be about $100,000,000. 



Miscellaneous Investigations, 

 basket willow industry. 



During the past year a comprehensive study was made of the Basket 

 Willow industry in the United States. The investigation included, 

 for the sake of comparison, a careful review of the osier industry of 

 European countries. This Bureau is constantly asked for informa- 

 tion on the culture of willows. 



An analysis of the present status of the Basket Willow industry in 

 the United States shows that there has been a marked decline in the 

 number of growers and in the quality and quantity of rods produced. 

 This is due partly to the widespread destruction by insects of osier 

 holts in the South and partly to a lack of proper methods of culture. 

 The finest osier rods are now imported from French and German 

 growers, whose methods of culture are practically unknown to Ameri- 

 can growers. With standard stock, the method of culture determines 

 the commercial qualities of the rods, and it is evident that if the best 

 methods are applied to American holts, high-grade rods can be grown 

 here. 



MAPLE-SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Further study of the maple-sugar industry was made during 1902. 

 Special study was made of the care, improvement, and management 

 of working groves and the creation of new groves by planting and by 

 natural reproduction, and of the present and future commercial possi- 

 bilities of the maple-sugar industry, which has declined. 



One of the principal aims in this investigation is to point out meas- 



