40 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photo from U. S. Forest Service 



gfnfral grant: big tr£f, 106 fe^t 

 in circumference:, cau^ornia 



The beneficial results of regulated graz- 

 ing, shown in a decided betterment of 

 much of the national forest range, made 

 it possible to increase the allotment of 

 stock on a number of the older forests. 

 At the same time investigations in range 

 improvement through reseeding, new 

 methods of handling stock, the eradica- 

 tion of poisonous plants, and the destruc- 

 tion of prairie dogs brought important 

 progress toward still better future use of 

 the forests by stockmen. The develop- 

 ment of watering places is another means 

 that is being pursued to the same end, 

 while the killing of predatory wild ani- 

 mals by forest service hunters saved the 

 stockmen losses probably greater than the 

 entire amount paid in grazing fees. This 

 amount was over $960,000. Through the 

 enforcement of quarantine regulations 

 and the distribution of blackleg vaccine 

 other losses from disease were prevented. 



Through cooperation with private own- 

 ers investigations in forest management 

 and forest planting were continued. It 

 was possible to make field examinations 

 of only about one-fifth of the total acre- 

 age for which advice concerning forest 

 management was sought. Every tract of 

 land on which the advice of the Service 

 is applied becomes a valuable experiment 

 in practical forestry. The total area for 

 which examinations have been made since 

 cooperation was first offered is nearly 

 11,000,000 acres, and on more than three- 

 fourths of this some form of forestry is 

 now in actual practice. 



The studies in wood preservation and 

 in the strength and physical properties of 

 different kinds of wood maintained the 

 position of the Forest Service as leader 

 toward more economical use of wood ma- 

 terial. Special attention was given to 

 working out practicable methods for 

 treating farm timbers in small quantities. 

 Studies in wood pulp-making showed that 

 a merchantable pulp can be made from 

 15 woods not commonly used. Along 

 many other lines also data were gathered 

 looking to better knowledge and control 

 of our forests and better use of their 

 products. At the same time the work 

 of bringing to the attention of the public 

 the knowledge gathered for the use of the 

 public was vigorously prosecuted. 



