23 
If the owner desires the working plan, a force of men is sent to 
collect the necessary data. A thorough examination of the tract is made 
both from the forester’s and from the lumberman’s points of view. 
The merchantable and immature trees upon sample strips are counted 
and their diameter measured, and from these data the stand on the 
whole tract is calculated. Volume and rate of growth are ascertained 
for the important species through tree analyses—that is, through meas- 
urements of felled trees and counts of theirannual rings. Studies are 
made of reproduction, of the danger from fire, grazing, and insect 
attack, and of the best means of preventing such injuries. Market 
and transportation facilities are carefully investigated, and the yield 
of timber and the character and distribution of the forest are mapped. 
When these facts have been collected they are worked up into the 
plan, which takes into account the special needs or purpose of the 
owner, as, for instance, to secure permanent supplies of mining tim- 
bers, to maintain a game preserve, or to protect a watershed. The 
recommendations in the plan enable the owner to derive from the for- 
est the fullest and most permanent revenue which is consistent with 
his special requirements. | 
The chief object of this work is to get forestry into actual practice 
with successful results. When necessary, therefore, a representative 
of the Service visits the owner again, confers with him on the details 
of the plan, and at his expense assists, if he desires it, in the actual 
work of putting the recommendations in force. Subsequent advice, 
if needed, can be secured by the owner on the same terms. But the 
Forest Service in all cases preserves its interest in the success of the 
methods which it has suggested and sends one of its experts about 
once in two years to inspect the progress of management and to make 
any fresh suggestions which the lapse of time or the owner’s desire 
may have made necessary or advisable. 
BRANCH OF PRODUCTS. 
OFFICE OF WOOD UTILIZATION. 
The work of the office of wood utilization is to further economy in 
the use of materials which come from the forest. The office comprises 
the four sections of drafting, computing, wood chemistry, and wood 
uses. | 
The work of the section of drafting includes the mapping of the 
many conditions which must be taken into consideration in locating 
and administering the National Forests, such as the legal status of 
lands, natural land classification, forest classification, water supply, 
and topography. The section makes maps which form the basis of 
the proclamations setting aside the National Forests, maps which 
record the results of the investigations of the Service, and working- 
[Cir. 36] 
