UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT QF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 1059 
Contribution from the Forest Service 
WILLIAM B. GREELEY, Forester 
Washington, D. C. 
May 19, 1922 
RESEARCH METHODS IN THE STUDY 
OF FOREST ENVIRONMENT 
By 
CARLOS G. BATES, Silviculturist 
In Charge Fremont Forest Experiment Station % 
and " 
RAPHAEL ZON, Forest Economist 
CONTENTS 
Page. 
Introduction 2 
Measurement of Environmental Condi- 
tions Affecting Vegetation 11 
Climatic Characteristics of Locality ... 11 
Natural Climatic Regions 11 
Data Obtained by the Weather Bureau. 1 1 
Knowledge of Existing Stations Nec- 
essary 12 
Periods of Growth and Rest 12 
Special Observations on Climate and Soil 
of Locality , 13 
Location of Instruments for Study of 
Growth 13 
Location of Instruments for Study of 
Reproduction 13 
Air Temperatures 15 
Special Observations on Climate and Soil 
of Locality— continued. 
Soil Temperatures . 26 
Solar Radiation— Light . 39 
Precipitation 60 
Soil Moisture and Soil Qualities . . 66 
Atmospheric Humidity 113 
Wind Movement 146 
Evaporation 151 
Phenology 168 
External Field Observations 170 
Internal or Physiological Observations 171 
Field Observations, Photographs, and 
Maps. 172 
Appendix 175 
List of References ' . . . . 202 
WASHINGTON- 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1922 
