REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 15 



The agents of the Bureau have also been making personal observa- 

 tions in regard to important subjects connected with the growth and 

 preservation of our forests, the results of which have been reported to 

 the division and will be given to the public. 



While the destruction of our forests is going on at a constantly in- 

 creasing and alarming rate, it is gratifying to know that the work of 

 planting trees for wind-breaks and for forest purposes is rapidly increas- 

 ing, especially in some of our western States and Territories. From 

 Nebraska, for instance, we have trustworthy information that not fewer 

 than 4,500,000 trees have been planted during the present year, and 

 more than two thousand bushels of walnut and other tree seeds. Con- 

 stant inquiries by letters from all parts of the country are made of 

 the division in regard to tree-planting, requiring much time for the 

 proper replies, but clearly showing the useful place which such a division 

 holds. 



Continued investigations have been made in regard to the consump- 

 tion of the forests both for legitimate purposes and by fire. The con- 

 sumption for the manufacture of lumber is increasing in a greater ratio 

 than is warranted by the increase of population and the consequent 

 natural demand. The lumber market is largely overstocked, and the 

 process of manufacture continues to be conducted in a wasteful man- 

 ner, when the rapidly decreasing source of supply calls for the utmost 

 economy of material. At a recent convention of lumbermen at Chicago, 

 representing an estimated capital of .8500,000,000, and called for the 

 purpose of improving the condition of the market by securing a check 

 in the rate of production, it was stated that the stock of lumber then 

 on hand was sufficient to supply all legitimate demands for eighteen 

 months if not another tree should be cut or sawn. 



But the convention was unable to effect any agreement for the cur- 

 tailment of production, and it was left to go on as individual interest 

 should determine. So far, therefore, as the forests of the country are 

 in private hands, there seems little reason to hope that their rapid con- 

 sumption by the ax and by fire can be checked. In one of our States, 

 owing to the laws regulating the assessment of taxes, we are able to 

 ascertain the amount of forests relatively to the whole area of the State 

 from year to year for thirty years past. The official returns from that 

 State show a steady diminution of the forest area during that period, 

 and not only in the State as a whole, but in every county, with a single 

 exception. 



The great pine forests of the Northwest are now depleted to such an 

 extent that the Southern pine is brought into competition with it in the 

 Chicago market, and perceptible inroads have already been made upon 

 those vast forests which cover so large a portion of the Gulf States. 

 The same reckless and wasteful methods of lumbering are pursued 

 there which have so rapidly consumed the Northern and Western forests. 



