SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 63 



FOREST FORCE. 



One ranger with 4 forest guards and '25 fire watchers should be 

 sufficient to afiford a degree of protection similar to that provided, 

 under the plan already submitted, for those reserves which should first 

 be taken in hand. 



FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



The following outline of treatment adapted to this reserve is offered 

 subject to the corrections which personal knowledge of it would 

 undoubtedly suggest. It is based altogether on the reports of others, 

 since I have not visited this reserve. Forest management in this 

 reserve requires first of all protection against fire. The inflammable 

 nature of the lodge pole pine, already alluded to in many places, makes 

 it specially important to take this matter iu hand vigorously from the 

 start. Other sylvicultural operations are entirely subsidiary, and must 

 wait. Timber should be sold to supply adjacent demands, which may 

 be expected to increase largely in the future. The system of clear cut- 

 ting in strips will probably best accomplish the desired result in this 

 reserve, where the reproduction of the forest is vigorous, and the soil 

 and climate are adapted to forest growth. Transportation must be 

 chiefly or wholly by flume or road. 'No attempt to use the streams for 

 driving purposes has hitherto succeeded on account of the steep slopes 

 between the upper plateau and the plains beneath. The sylvicultural 

 character of the lodge-pole pine is comparatively simple, and well 

 adapted to forest management, and little or no difficulty should be 

 experienced in securing a permanent and continuous yield from the 

 Big Horn Eeserve. 



BOUNDARIES. 



This reserve includes at present very little land which does not 

 properly belong within it. Considerable extensions of its lines are 

 plainly indicated by the information available, but in the absence of 

 personal knowledge and a suitable map 1 am not prepared to recom- 

 mend new boundaries. 



BITTBREOOT FOREST RESERVE. 



SUMMARY. 



Situation : West-central Montana and east-central Idaho. 



Acres. 



Area within present lines 4, 147,280 



Adverse holdings, railroad lauds 256, 360 



Per cent of 

 total area. 



Area of forest laud (?) 95 



Area marked by fire (?) 80 



Area badly burned (?) 50 



Acres. 



Area within proposed lines, approximately 4, 238, 160 



Inclusions proposed, approximately 90, 880 



Force recommended: One ranger, 2 forest guards, 20 lire watchers. 

 Sources of information : Report of Special Field Assistant J. B. Leiberg, United 

 States Geological Survey. Personal examination July 27 to August 19, 1896. 



A rugged and broken mountain region with steep or precipitous slopes, admirably 

 adapted to the growth of forests. 



