10 THE PKOFESSION OF FORESTRY. 



reforesting unproductive treeless areas either by planting or by 

 direct seeding. The rangers also have been called upon to do work 

 of this character, in addition to their regular work of protection and 

 routine administration. Many of them have become very proficient 

 in it, and will undoubtedly have more and more of it to do as the 

 business of the National Forests increases. The next step in the 

 development of the Forests is the preparation of detailed plans for 

 the administration and use of their resources. These plans will 

 place the management of the Forests on a far more definite and 

 permanent basis, and both their preparation and execution will 

 require technical abihty of a high order. 



INVESTIGATION AND COOPERATION. 



The investigative work of the Forest Service is of two kinds: 

 That designed primarily to aid in the development of forestry on the 

 National Forests, and that designed to aid in the development of 

 forestry throughout the country. To accomplish the first of these 

 purposes six forest experiment stations, similar in scope to the 

 agricultural experiment stations, have been established on the 

 National Forests in the West, These experiment stations are in 

 charge of speciahsts, who devote their entire time to scientific investi- 

 gations, the result of which will lead to better methods of forest man- 

 agement. For example, detailed investigations are now being carried 

 on to determine the best methods of artificial reforestation under 

 given conditions, the best methods of cutting in different forest 

 types to secure natural reproduction, the rate of growth of trees left 

 after lumbering, and similar studies. In addition to these experi- 

 ment stations, investigative work is being done on the various 

 National Forests by the technically trained men assigned to them. 

 In this way a vast amount of information is being accumulated 

 in all parts of the West, which will be of the greatest value in putting 

 the management of the Forests on the best possible foundation. 

 . The investigative work outside of the National Forests is conducted 

 from the Washington office. The total force permanently engaged 

 upon this work varies from about 20 to 30 men, with additional 

 assistants during the field season. The work is designed to make 

 available for private owners much the same information regarding 

 their forests as the Government desires concerning the National 

 Forests. Special studies are made of individual problems of im- 

 portance, and the results are made generally available through 

 pubhcations.. 



Closely connected with the investigative work is the cooperation 

 offered to private owners and to States. In States without a State 

 forester, advice in regard to the best methods of forest management 

 and in regard to planting is furnished by the Service to small timber- 



