of the communications system needed for protection and management 

 of the national forests will require 2,000 additional radios and replace- 

 ment of 9,000 radios and 3,000 miles of telephone lines. The increasing 

 use of aircraft as an efficient and economical means of transportation 

 for protection and management of wild lands will require an addi- 

 tional 25 landing fields and reconstruction of 37 existing fields. 



Research 



Forestry and allied research is needed to keep the national forests 

 and the utilization of their resources moving ahead on an efficient, 

 effective, and economical basis to play their proper role in the progress 

 and development of the Nation. Resource managers and adminis- 

 trators need answers to their everyday problems. Resource develop- 

 ment, management, protection, and utilization have an additional 

 need, and organized research has an additional objective to achieve 

 significant break-throughs that will show the way to new methods 

 and new horizons in the management of timber, soil and water, forage, 

 wildlife habitat, and recreation resources. The short-term research 

 program is needed to yield both quick results of applicability during 

 the initial period, and information of value in attaining long-range 

 objectives. 



The research proposals for the initial period embrace work that 

 should yield information of wide application and high value. These 

 proposals include — 



1. Accelerated research in forest genetics to produce trees superior 

 to present ones — in growth rate, wood quality, resistance to insects 

 and diseases, and other special qualities — for use in the needed 

 planting programs on national forests. 



2. Development of new cultural practices to increase the produc- 

 tion of high-quality seed through establishment and management of 

 seed orchards ; better methods of harvesting, storing, and processing 

 of seed ; and more efficient planting practices, including direct seed- 

 ing with aircraft. 



3. Better implementation of the national-forest pest control pro- 

 gram by developing a broader knowledge of the life histories of 

 damaging insects and diseases and of new methods for controlling 

 them through use of diseases and predators of the pests themselves, 

 as well as through improved selective chemicals for use in direct 

 control action. 



4. Better implementation of the national-forest fire control pro- 

 gram by developing a better understanding of fire behavior and new 

 techniques and equipment needed to eliminate the runaway fires 

 now responsible for 90 percent of fire losses in the national-forest 

 system. 



5. Development of new and improved practices required to facili- 

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