One of the aims of forestry is to see that the products of the forest are put to their best use with the least waste. Through studies of wood uses the Forest Service aids the wood industries to find the most suitable raw material and to develop methods of utiliz ing their waste products. It also investigates methods of disposing of wood waste, collects statistics on the price of lumber at the mill and on the market, and studies lumber specifi cations and grading rules.
To carry out the idea still further, a forest products laboratory is maintained at Madison, Wis., in co-operation with the University of Wisconsin. Here, among other things, the physical, structural, and chemical properties of wood are studied. Studies are also made at the laboratory of seasoning and kiln-drying, preservative treatment, and the use of wood for the production of paper pulp, fibre board, etc., and in the manufacture of alcohol, turpentine, resin, tar, and other chemical products. Besides strictly forest investigations, the Service studies the life history and growth requirements of forage plants, in order that the National Forest ranges may be maintained in the best condition.
Forest Service The work of the Forest Service is administered by the forester and associate forester, and is organ ized under the branches of operation, lands, sil viculture, research, and grazing. A separate unit is charged with the acquisition of lands in the southern Appalachians and White Moun tains under the Weeks Law. The branch of operation has general supervision of the per sonnel, quarters, equipment, and permanent im provement work on the National Forests. The branch of lands examines and classifies lands within the National Forests to determine their value for forest or other purposes, conducts all work necessary in connection with claims on the National Forests, and assists the chief engi neer of the Service in all business connected with the use of National Forest lands for hydro electric power purposes. The branch of silvi culture supervises the planting, sale, and cutting of timber on the National Forests, and co-oper ates with States in protecting forest lands under section 2 of the Weeks Law. The branch of research has supervision over the investigative work of the Service, including' silvicultural studies, studies of State forest conditions, inves tigations of the lumber and wood-using indus tries and lumber prices, and the work carried on at the forest products laboratory and the forest experiment stations. The branch of grazing
supervises the grazing of livestock upon the national forests, allotting grazing privileges, and dividing the ranges between different owners and classes of stock. It is also charged with the work of improving depleted grazing areas and of co-operating with the Federal and State authorities in the enforcement of stock quaran tine regulations.
Lands in the southern Appalachians and White Mountains are being purchased by the National Forest Reservation Commission, in ac cordance with the Act of 1 March 1911, com monly known as the Weeks Law, which pro vides for the acquisition of forest land on the watersheds of navigable streams. The Forest Service has been designated as the bureau to examine and value such lands as may be offered for purchase. Up to 1 July 1916, a total of 706,974 acres had been purchased and 578,753 acres in addition approved for purchase. These lands will be administered as National Forests.
In order to prevent delay and "redtape° in the administration of the National Forests, seven field districts, each containing approximately 26,000,000 acres of government forestland, have been established, with a district forester in charge of each. In each district office, assistant district foresters are in charge of operation, lands, silviculture, and grazing work in that dis trict. Each National Forest (approximately 1, 000,000 acres of forest land) is in charge of a forest supervisor, who is the genera( manager of his forest, planning the work and seeing that it is carried out. On forests where there is a particularly large volume of business the super visor is assisted by a deputy. Every National Forest is divided into ranger districts (about 200,000 acres) with a distract ranger in charge of each. Rangers perform the routine work involved in the supervision of timber sales, grazing, and free use and special use. They also help to build roads, trails, bridges, tele phone lines, and other permanent improvements on the forests. For organization for fire pro tection on the National Forests see FOREST FIRES.