34 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



be favored in the future forest. Already it has been shown that lob- 

 lolly and shortleaf, believed by many operators not to yield turpen- 

 tine, equal the yield of longleaf. The experiments include tests, also, 

 of the resins of Virginia (" scrub ") and western yellow pine. 



FOREST DISTRIBUTION AND RESOURCES. 



Studies of the forests of five Maryland counties, in cooperation 

 with the State geological survey, were completed and will be pub- 

 lished by the survey. The study of one other county is in progress. 

 A silvical study of the " Big Thicket " region of south-central Texas 

 was completed, and one of the brown-wooded cedar forests of Texas 

 is under way. Information was furnished the Canadian geological 

 survey as to the range in the United States of commercially important 

 Canadian trees. A report on the identification and uses of American 

 woods was prepared. 



BASKET WILLOWS. 



The basket-willow holts now contain 25,000 vigorous stools. Some 

 200,000 green rods were cut from them in February and yielded 

 1,400 pounds of basket stock as good as the finest imported rods, 

 together with 5,000 choice cuttings for extending the plantation, and 

 12,000 for free distribution. 



Manufacturers have studied the methods by which rods equal to 

 the best imported stock were grown at home, and in some cases are 

 preparing to establish holts of their own, while numbers of small 

 producers have been led to enter the field of willow production. 



Samples of bark from the different varieties of willow under 

 experiment were analyzed for the Forest Service by the Bureau of 

 Chemistry, and it was found that the purple and almond willows 

 yield 8.73 and 11.39 per cent of tannin, respectively, or about the 

 same as the standard tanbark oaks. Other willow barks gave results 

 sufficient to justify their use. The bark from next year's crop will be 

 analyzed to determine, also, its production of salicine. 



The experiments have yielded valuable information as to cultural 

 methods, which will be published. 



TREES or THE PACIFIC STATES. 



Progress was made in preparing for publication the first of the 

 regional studies promised, the " Trees of the Pacific States." It will 

 tell in untechnical language how to identify the species, where they 

 are found, and what theii; silvical characteristics are. It is much 

 needed by the local forest officers and the general public. 



The revision of Bulletin 17, " Check List of Trees of the United 

 States," has made progress. 



The collection of wood specimens, preparatory to the work on the 

 identification of woods of the United States, was begun. It will 

 meet the actual needs of wood users, who are now sometimes imposed 

 upon by material falsely named. 



Great confusion now exists in distinguishing the various species 

 and varieties of catalpa grown for timber, to the frequent injury of 



