192 DEPARTMENTAL REPOKTS. 



cost of $1,363.09. In November, 1903, the new seedbed was planted 

 to western j'ellow, jack, and lodgepole pine, and red and white fir, in 

 drills 6 inches apart, at the rate of 50 to 60 seeds per linear foot. 

 Planting the 1 acre required 26i days' work and cost ^.62. This 

 very low cost was the result of ingenious and labor-saving methods, 

 and" it is believed to compare very favorably with what any private 

 nurseryman could accomplish the same work for. The bed from 

 which the seedlings were taken for this year's planting has been 

 seeded again, giving 2 full acres of seedbed, most of which will fur- 

 nish trees for planting next spring. With ordinary conditions, 

 1,500,000 trees should be ready for planting at that time. 



BRUNER PLANTATION THINNED. 



This plantation, situated in the southwestern part of Holt County, 

 Nebr. , was planted under the direction of the Division of Forestry in 

 1890. It consists principally of jack pine. Its marked success has 

 greatly influenced planting on the Dismal River Eeserve and elsewhere 

 on the Plains. As the trees had been thickly planted and never thinned, 

 they had crowded so severely that to preserve the best growing con- 

 dition it was necessary to thin the plantation during the past year. 

 In this grove the dominant trees average 19.4 feet in height, and 3 

 inches in diameter breasthigh. The thinning has left the trees in 

 excellent condition, and thej' should continue, if not excel, their good 

 growth of the past. 



NIOBRARA RESERVE. 



This reserve also is situated in the sandhill region of Nebraska, and 

 was established for the purpose of giving opportunity for large 

 experiments in tree planting. 



During the past year the reserve was surveyed and mapped. A 

 report was made which includes, besides a description of conditions, 

 recommendations for the protection of the present timber and for 

 planting. 



SAN GABEIEL RESERVE. 



Planting on the San Gabriel Reserve, though in progress experi- 

 mentally under the Bureau's direction for three years, has not yet 

 resulted in the discovery of a sure and economical method of securing 

 its forestation. A year ago the method of seed-spot planting was 

 given a thorough trial. Seed so planted germinated readily, but the 

 3'oung seedlings were nearly all destroyed by birds and rabbits when 

 only a few days old. A few hundred seedlings were also planted. 

 These were very young and tender and nearly all died, but their 

 endurance in transplanting indicated the probability of success with 

 larger transplanted trees. A seedbed was therefore established in 

 Pasadena, as stated in last year's report, and has resulted in 50,000 

 thrifty trees, 35,000 of which have already been transplanted, and all 

 of which should be in prime condition for transplanting on the 

 mountains next winter. 



It was decided to establish a nursery- also at a higher elevation, near 

 where the planting should be done, and accordingly a site was chosen 

 in the San Gabriel Mountains, on a bench 2,500 feet above sea level, 

 known as Henninger's Flats. The tract, consisting of 80 acres, with 



