35 



For all work to be done on the respective ranges, they should 

 under direction of the forester, employ the help needed and keep the 

 time sheets. They should have the right to dispose of fire-killed 

 timber in the way prescribed by the forester. Some rangers, es- 

 pecially those on reserves which are not yet supplied with foresters, 

 seem to think that patroling is the one thing required of them ; that 

 if a certain amount of time is spent riding or walking over the reserve 

 they have done their full duty. Instead of patroling being their 

 Avhole duty it should be but a small part of it. The other part should 

 consist in keeping roads in a passable condition, in opening the trails 

 svhere necessary to make any part of the reserve accessible, in keeping 

 springs well cleaned and paths opened leading to them, and in doing 

 any other work directed by the Department. 



The rangers should traverse that part of the reserve boundary along 

 their ranges, at least once a month. Under the present method used 

 by some rangers, of patroling only the roads nearest the lines, adjoin- 

 ing owners might cut over them for a long while and the rangers not 

 be aware of it. Eangers should be encouraged to operate small nur- 

 series in connection with their work and should be supplied with 

 the necessary material for planting and instructions concerning the 

 raising of seedlings. There are many half days when a ranger would 

 otherwise be doing nothing that his time might profitably be spent 

 in a nursery. The seedlings raised could be used to plant the many 

 small blanks found in almost all forests. 



All rangers should give their entire time to work on the reserves, 

 and should not be engaged in an additional occupation, as farming 

 or lumbering. No one can farm and care for a large area of forest 

 land at the same time. He will either have to slight one or the other, 

 and in most cases it will be the forest. Foresters should try to get 

 their rangers interested in the work. Until the men are interested 

 it will always be somewhat retarded and of a poor quality. Probably 

 one of the best ways to arouse interest is for the forester to explain 

 to them his plans of work for the coming month or the coming year. 

 Explain why such work is necessary and ask their views concerning 

 the manner of performing it. State to them the financial results of 

 past operations. Men like to know what returns their labor is yield- 

 ing. 



The placing of rangers in charge of men employed on the reserves 

 should help stimulate interest, for a man is always interested in a 

 piece of work if he knows he is the one held responsible for the manner 

 in which it is done. Copies of all reports, bulletins and circulars is- 

 sued by the Department should be forwarded to them, so that they 

 can gain a clear idea of exactly what the State is doing and wishes 

 to do on its reserves. 



At the present time some men hold positions as forest rangers who 

 who are scarcely able to read and write. As long as the duties of 



