LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
FORESTRY DIVISION, 
Washington, D. C., May 20, 1891. 
Sir: The unusual interest shown in the subject-matter contained in 
the following pages, when presented in the form of public addresses 
delivered by me as your representative before various bodies (notably 
before the State Boards of Agricuiture of Kansas and Nebraska and 
the Chamber of Commerce of Rochester, New York), makes it appear 
desirable to publish the same for a larger audience. 
At first sight it may be thought incongruous to present under one 
cover the two aspects of forestry, the reader from the treeless plains 
being seemingly not interested in the treatment of the forest cover in 
wooded country, and vice versa. ; 
But while on general principles it is desirable that all citizens should 
understand the forestry problem as it presents itself in the different 
parts of the country, the knowledge which is gained in the natural for- 
est is an aid in forest-planting, and the principles which underlie forest 
planting are also to some extent of influence in forest management. 
Hence beth aspects are best presented together. 
Since forest planting in the plains is still largely a matter of experi- 
ment, I have deemed it desirable to append two contributions from 
correspondents relating their experience, and the results of actual 
though limited practice in the field. 
B. E. FERNOW, 
Chief of Forestry Division. 
Hon. J. M. Rusk, 3 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
