226 DEPARTMENTAL BEPOBTS. 



major part of our naval stores and has led to the offer of willing co- 

 operation in further studies. 



Purpose and character of new experiments. — A promising field 

 for still further improvement in turpentining methods was opened by 

 the likelihood that by diminishing the wound caused by chipping the 

 injury to the tree might be still further reduced without decreasing 

 the yield. The problem is essentially to discover the effect of chip- 

 ping on the physiological activities of the tree, upon which depend 

 the secretion and flow of resin. To test this matter experiments were 

 begun on March 1, 1905, with four crops of approximately 8,000 

 trees each. 



These experiments are being conducted on a longleaf pine tract 

 near Greencove Springs, Lake County, Fla., about 30 miles south of 

 Jacksonville. The work is under the constant observation of the 

 most progressive turpentine operators, a number of whom have 

 already modified their methods in the light of such conclusions as 

 the work itself has suggested, even at its present early stage. 



The special thanks of the Forest Service are due to the Hilman- 

 Sutherland Land Company, of Jacksonville, Fla., for the disinter- 

 ested cooperative arrangement under which these experiments are 

 being carried out. It is planned to continue the work for the regular 

 commercial period of three years. 



SYSTEMATIC STUDIES OF FOREST FLORA. 

 REGIONAL STUDIES. 



The preparation of material for a series of bulletins descriptive 

 and illustrative of the tree species of the different regions of the 

 United States has been undertaken. The first installment of this 

 work will be published, when ready, under the title of " Part I. Trees 

 of the Pacific States." 



FOREST HERBARIUM. 



Response to the demands for technical information about trees 

 made by individuals and by schools, colleges, and other institutions 

 has become a considerable part of the duties of the Dendrologist. 

 To facilitate this work the assignment of about 1,000 of the Forestry 

 Division's original collection of tree, seed, bark, and wood specimens 

 was secured. This material is needed not only for reference, but also 

 to supply models for drawings to illustrate "proposed studies of the 

 tree floras of the United States. 



FOREST LIBRARY AND PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION. 



By a change of quarters of the forest library and the photographic 

 collection made in November, 1904, better facilities for practical upe 

 and enlarged space for filing books and photographs were gained. 

 Adequate room for readers, however, is still lacking. Books and 

 pamphlets to the number of 3,851 were added during the year, 

 bringing the forest library to a total of 8,078 volumes. This marked 

 increase is due mainly to a large accession of books and pamphlets 

 previously in the Department library, for which the shelves of the 

 Forest Service did not formerly afford space. 



