32 FORESTRY [Bot. Absts., Vol. V, 



227. Romell, Lars-Gunnar. Sammanvaxning och naturympning. [Growing together 

 and natural grafting.] Skogen 6: 133-141. 4 fig. 1919. 



228. Rumbold, Caroline. The injection of chemicals into chestnut trees. Amer. 

 Jour. Bot. 7: 1-20. 7 fig. 1920.— See Bot. Absts. 5, Entry 964. 



229. Scheidter, Franz. Das Tannensterben im Frankenwalde. [Death of firs in the 

 Frankenwald.] Naturw. Zeitschr. Forst- u. Landw. 17: 69-90. 1919.— The dying of firs in 

 the State-owned Frankenwald, and also to a lesser extent in other middle-European forests, 

 which has become gradually and only in recent years of alarming extent, is described in great 

 detail. After dissertating upon various theories which have been advanced by other investi- 

 gators, especially Neger, the writer states it as his own opinion that insects and fungi (the 

 Hallimasch most commonly), are only secondary causes, and that the fundamental difficulty 

 arises from the improper silvicultural system followed in the State forests. In these the effort 

 seems always to have been to grow fir, and spruce-fir mixtures, in even-aged stands, whereas 

 privately-owned forests, under similar conditions, are usually handled as all-aged or selection 

 forests, a plan which is better adapted to fir. The opinion is advanced, and is backed by much 

 evidence, that the rapid loss of fir in the Frankenwald is due primarily to crowding when the 

 even-aged stands attain a certain age or density, being particularly marked where fir must 

 compete with the broader-crowned spruce. In any event, in such stands, the lower limbs are 

 lost very rapidly, and in the opinion of the writer, the small crown remaining at the top of the 

 tree is then unable to draw to itself sufficient moisture for existence. The older needles die, 

 then the growing tip succumbs, and death of the entire tree soon follows. Often, before death 

 occurs, there is a vigorous production of "water-sprouts" on the lower portion of the stem. 

 The evil is augmented by drought years, and by snow-damage and windfall which, by opening 

 the canopy, apparently encourage the production of these "water-sprouts" and also cause 

 drying of the soil, the growth of grass, etc. A horde of insects, and some of the most de- 

 structive fungi, attack the weakened trees, and of course hasten death and contribute to the 

 aggregate losses. The suggested remedy is a system of management which will give the fir 

 more ample space for its late development and maturing. This the selection system would 

 appear to do. — C. G. Bates. 



230. Schotte, Gunnar. Meddelanden fran Svenska Skogsvardsforeningen. — Protokollj 

 fort vid Svenska Skogsvardsforeningens arsmote i Stockholm den 14 mars, 1919. [Proceedings 

 at the annual meeting of the Swedish forestry association, Stockholm, March 14, 1919.] Skogen 

 6:217-224. 1919. 



231. Secrest, Edmund. Salient features of a forestry policy for Ohio. Monthly Bull. 

 Ohio Agric. Exp. Sta. 5: 15-19. 1920. — The depletion of forests cannot be permitted longer 

 to escape public attention. Private ownership has failed to provide for renewal of forests 

 after cutting. The effect of such a policy is very marked in small communities where certain 

 phases of the lumbering industry have been the chief source of income. A state forestry policy 

 is proposed whereby non-agricultural or idle lands may be purchased for reforestation pur- 

 poses. Ohio has 500,000 acres of such land which should come under public ownership, or 

 state or municipal custody. To encourage private owners to reforest waste lands the state 

 should establish nurseries where planting stock could be obtained at the cost of production. 

 — R. C. Thomas. 



232. Show, S. B. Climate and forest fires in northern California. Jour. Forestry 17: 

 965-979. 1919. — Relationships existing between fire and climate have long been recognized 

 by foresters but not before studied intensively. The moisture content of the forest litter is 

 a prime consideration as to both ignition and rate of spread of fire. Litter dries out exceed- 

 ingly fast under summer conditions and when it contains 8 per cent or less moisture, burns 

 readily. Over this amount fire will not spread. Litter moisture is affected by climatic con- 

 ditions, being driest on south slopes and the most moist on north slopes and at high elevations. 

 Litter behaves like soil as regards hydroscopic moisture, taking up as much as 6 per cent of 



