proceedings: society of American foresters 219 



lievo the fuel situation another wintoi', and to stiniulato the practice of 

 private and municipal forestry. It was pointed out that the laigely 

 increased demand for wood fuel was both an opportunity for and a 

 danger to the practice of forestry in that while it created a market for 

 forest products not otherwise merchantable, it also might lead to over 

 cutting and to the destruction of potential timber trees. 



In the discussion which followed, Messrs. Mattoon, Besley (State 

 Forester of Maryland), Krousz (recently with the (ireat Southern 

 Lumber Company of Louisiana), Munns, R. C. Jones (State Forester 

 of \'irginia), Sparhaw'k, E. H. Jones (United States Fuel Adminis- 

 tration), Baker, and Harris took part outlining their experiences in 

 the wood fuel campaign and discussing the subject from various angles. 



Following the program refreshments were served and the meeting 

 adjourned. 



An open, meeting of the Societ}^ was held Thursday evening, IVLarch 

 14, at the home of Mr. E. H. Clapp. Nineteen members and twelve 

 visiting members and guests were present. 



Under the head of announcements Mr. Raphael Zon reported that 

 at a recent meeting in New York the War Committee was reorganized 

 and Prof. J. W. Toumey elected chairman. The purpose of this com- 

 mittee is to keep in touch with the needs of the Government and with 

 the available technical foresters of the country in order that specially 

 trained men can be mobilized for war work as needed. 



The topic of the evening, Forest products and the war, was intro- 

 duced by Mr. E. H. Clapp, who outlined briefly the many and varied 

 uses of wood in the present struggle, and pointed out what an indispen- 

 sable factor wood is in modern warfare. He also described briefly the 

 war work at the Forest Products Laboratory of the Forest Service, 

 mentioning some of the more important investigations now under way 

 or proposed. 



Following Mr. Clapp, Mr. H. S. Betts discussed certain phases of the 

 work of the Forest Products Laboratory bearing directly on the war, 

 illustrating his remarks by reference to a number of models and draw^- 

 ings. In the work of box testing and testing of woods for various pur- 

 poses the Laboratory has been especially active. As a result existing 

 specifications have been modified in a number of cases in such a way 

 as to allow the substitution of more available woods and lower grade 

 material without lowering the quality of the product. This has made 

 possible a more complete utilization of available supplies with a con- 

 sequent saving in cost and reduction in the strain on production. He 

 also stated that new methods of kiln drying lumber have been per- 

 fected which make it possible to season material in a few weeks that 

 would ordinarily take several years. This has made possible the speed- 

 ing up of construction of all kinds where seasoned wood is requu-ed. 

 Tests of veneers, glues, and methods of gluing have also been of great 

 value, particularly in airplane construction, while changes recom- 



