Agricultur, Horticultur, Forstbotanik. 671 



Preparation of the border, planting young vines, pruning and trai- 

 ning, manuring, disbudding and stopping shoots, and thinning the 

 fruit are discussed. 



The diseases which attack the vine are dcscribed, the chief 

 fungoid pests being Sphaceloma ampelinum, Loe&tadia Bidwelli, 

 Peronospora viticola , Uncinula spiralis, Oidium Tiickeri, and Gloeospo- 

 riuni fructigenuni. Other less important diseases are mentioned, and 

 various remedies suggested. 



Different varietes of grapes suitable for cultivation are given. 

 The information is especially applicable to grape culture in Jamaica. 



W. G. Freeman. 



Julius, G. A., The Physical Characteristics of the Hard- 

 woods of Western Australia. (Issued by the Government of 

 Western Australia. 1906. p. 1—36, and 72 plates.) 



A report upon a series of tests of the strength of the timbers indige- 

 nous to this State. All results published hitherto have varied to 

 such an extent as to be of little value for practical purposes. Thus 

 the tensile strength of Jarrah is given by three authorities, as 

 2,940, 5,000, and 16,407, Ibs per Square inch respectively. 



This great divergency in the results obtained from timber tests 

 is probably due to variations in the percentage of moisture present 

 in the timber, and the absence of any determination of the moisture 

 condition of the test material vitiates practicall}^ all tests of the 

 strength of timber, with some species the strength at 12°/^ moisture 

 is some 75°/o stronger than the same sticks are either green or wet 

 through after seasoning. 



In the tests reported on special attention has been given to 

 obtaining strictly comparable results, the moisture present in each 

 specimen being determined immediately after the completion of the 

 physical test. 



Tests were made to ascertain the holding power of the various 

 timbers upon Railway ''dog spikes", both with green and dry tim- 

 bers, with spikes newly driven and with those that had been in 

 place for a varjnng number of years. 



All results obtained are set forth in füll, with numerous illustra- 

 tions, curves, and tabulated shedules. The results of the tests of the 

 Western Australian timbers are in one table compared with 

 recent data available concerning the most important of the world's 

 hardwoods. W. G. Freeman. 



Sehlieh. Forestry in the West Indies. (West Indian Bulletin. 

 Vol. VIT. p. 277-282. 1906.) 



All the West Indian Islands require the preservation of forests 

 for the production and regulation of the water supply, andto prevent 

 erosion and denudation. 



The forests contain large numbers of timber trees, mahogany, 

 cedar, and logwood being the most important. They also contain 

 dye woods, and yield gums, resins, and rubber. 



The forest land of Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago, 

 St. Lucia, British Honduras, and British Guiana are discussed 

 in detail, and the average annual exports and Imports of timber are 

 given as far as the data are available. W. G. Freeman. 



