i908 NEWS AND NOTES 275 



Better Fig- The average man usual- United States are given, together 

 A^'^^'i^hf" ^y ^^^ ^ ^^^y hazy idea with the sizes which they attain at 

 ^^^ ^ ^ ' as to the rapidity of ages of 30, 50, 80, 100, 150, and 200 

 growth of trees. In fact, until re- years. While the figure? for different 

 cently very little accurate information species should not be compared too 

 had been gathered which could throw closely, they will admit of rough gen- 

 light on this very important aspect of eralization which will be of consider- 

 American forestry. The value of a able value, 

 forest is not merely the standing tim- 

 ber which it contains, but it incltides prj^g Winner James D. Schuyler, of 

 also the power to produce a future Second Time "^°^ Angeles, the prom- 

 crop. The study of tree growth has inent hydraulic engineer, 

 a very practic. \ purpose, that of mea-:. has achieved the distinction of being 

 uring this producing power of forests, the first member of the profession 

 It is only through this knowledge that twice to receive one of the principal 

 the forester can determine whether or honors bestowed by the American So- 

 not forestry will pay. ciety of Civil Engineers. This is the 



To gather enough information to "Thomas Fitch Rowland Prize" given 



furnish complete figures of growth annually to the member or engineei 



even for such of our trees as are at who contributes the most noteworthy 



present of commercial importance, paper describing in detail accomplished 



would be a vast undertaking and would work of construction. Mr. Schuyler, 



involve a greater outlay of money than who is the author of a standard work 



can at present be made. The United on Dams, has been advised that he ha.'^ 



States Forest Service has, however, received the 1907 award for his paper 



made a large number of local studies entitled "Recent Practice in Hydrau- 



o^ growth which serve well as a firs+ lie-Fill Dam Construction," a contri- 



"itep in this direction. While the fig- bution to science which has created a 



ures at present available are not stir among engineers throughout t'/ie 



claimed to be complete or final, they world. He had previously won the 



cire of great use to foresters in work- prize for his paper, "The Construction 



ingoutproblems of forest management, of the Sweetwater Dam." 



Tn an old publication which has a 



large circulation among handlers o^ Reports Sue- The new School of For- 



lumber is given a table showing the cessful Initial ^stj-y ^t the University 



sizes of different kinds of trees at the ^^^'* of Washington, Seattle, 



age of twelve years. According to reports a successful initial year, and 



this table the diameter of a birch tree interest in the course is developing in 



at this age is ten inches and its height a very satisfactory way. Eighteen stu- 



twenty feet, The height is approxi- dents have enrolled in the School, nine 



mately correct, but the diameter giv- of whom are in the full course. Al- 



en is several hundred per cent too though instruction in forestry has been 



high. The actual diameter would be given at the University since 1895 the 



from one to three inches, depending work was not placed on an independ- 



on the kind of birch, situation, and ent footing until the present year, 



other factors. Again, silver maple is Full announcement of the plans and 



given a diameter of twelve inches, aims of the School will be made in the 



whereas the true size should be about catalogue, which will be ready for dis" 



three and a half inches. tribution by May first. 



The Forest Service is preparing for Three courses are outlined. One, a 



publication a "Preliminary Synopsis of four year undergraduate course, de- 



the Rate of Growth of Forest Trees" sisfned more especially for those who 



in which is given a summary of ^he wish to enter on a business career in 



figures of growth so far obtained and some phase of the lumber industry, but 



worked up. The most important tree who wish first to have the advantages 



in each of the forest regions of the of a university training ; also for those 



