110 Our Field and Forest Trees 



instead of trees now in danger of extermination. 

 They try to find out how the useful things ex- 

 tracted from wood — turpentine, pitch, resin, and 

 alcohol — can be extracted from material that 

 now goes to waste — the stumps the slabs and the 

 sawdust. 



These are but a few examples of the problems 

 which the service expert encounters, or which his 

 work suggests. The program of 191 2 included 

 953 subjects to be investigated. 



As part of its work the forest service publishes 

 a number of pamphlets about trees — what sorts 

 will probably thrive in certain soils and situations ; 

 how they should be planted and cared for; and 

 how their diseases can be cured. 



Farmers In the West have been planting trees 

 ever since the country was settled, not for the sake 

 of the timber, but to protect buildings and crops 

 from the wind. On the prairies the winds are 

 almost as constant as they are on the sea. In 

 spring they blow from the southeast, and bring 

 the rain with them. In summer they come from 

 the south, and may be hot and scorching. In win- 

 ter the prairie winds blow from the north and 

 west, and sometimes are very swift and cold. 

 When they drive the snow before them, terrible 

 blizzards may result. 



On the prairies and plains there are few hills, 

 and the first settlers found no trees except along 

 the water courses; so there was nothing to check 



