212 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



a tract in Xew Hampshire on which a present hemlock and hard- 

 wood forest can be converted into one of white pine, with a promise 

 of largely increased profits; a tract in western Washington, the 

 study of which disclosed important facts concerning the usefulness 

 of forestry in connection with the production of Pacific coast fir; 

 a tract in eastern Washington on which it was found that a fair 

 second cut can be obtained within a reasonable period by the appli- 

 cation of proper methods of handling; an Idaho forest likely to 

 become an important source of supply of mining timbers as well as 

 a protective agency for the water necessary to the development of 

 the surrounding country, and a northern California tract on which 

 it appeared that management would pay well if fire could be kept 

 out, and for which a plan to secure fire protection was made. 



STUDIES or COJEMEKCIAL TREES. 



During the past year much attention was given to studies of com- 

 mercial trees. The purpose of these studies is to secure full and ac- 

 curate knowledge of the requirements and habits of each individual 

 species of our more important forest trees. Not only are such 

 studies valuable contributions to our knowledge of North American 

 iorests, but they are of material service for forest management 

 and the successful preparation of working plans. It is the present 

 aim to supplement the determination of volume and yield by thorough 

 investigation of the value and uses of the timber, demand, general 

 market conditions, the best methods of lumbering and handling, and 

 the most profitable means of utilizing the trees under various cir- 

 cumstances. Such information as this has already been of great 

 value in showing where waste, both in logging and in utilization of 

 the timber, can be avoided. 



SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. 



The Southern Appalachian region is of foremost importance to the 

 hard-wood interests of the United States, because of the great extent 

 and value of its hard-wood forests. The Forest Service has collected 

 during a number of years volume and growth measurements for sev- 

 eral species in various parts of this territory, chiefly in connection 

 with the making of working plans. During the past year the work 

 of correlating and rounding out the data previously collected was 

 undertaken. 



Yellow poplar, white, red, black, and chestnut oaks, chestnut, 

 white pine, and hemlock were studied in West Virginia, Kentucky, 

 and Tennessee, and the mountainous portions of Maryland, Virginia, 

 North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. In addi- 

 tion to the field work, a careful market study was also made of all the 

 species under consideration. The demand for these timbers has in- 

 creased enormously within the last ten years, the available supplies 

 are rapidly diminishing, and stumpage prices are rising very fast. 

 A comprehensive rnarket study is thus of special timeliness. 



In preparing this market study, a general canvass was made of 

 the lumbering centers of the Southern Appalachian region. Infor- 

 mation was obtained at each point concerning the remaining stand of 

 timber of each si^ecies and its quality, the annual cut and its uses, 



