198 FORESTRY [BoT. Absts., Vol. IX, 



cm., which is in excess of the average diameter assigned to it by other writers; the maximum 

 observed was 36.7 and the minimum 28.8 cm. A diameter less than 25 cm. has not been obser- 

 ved. Other things being equal, Elaeis develops better and more vigorously on a pronounced 

 slope than on a slight slope or on flat ground. — E. M. Doidge. 



1278. Vendelmans, H. Making a forest to order. Sci. Amer. 124: 232, 240. 4 fid- 

 1921. — A method of forestry by preculture, as practiced in Europe, is described. The method 

 consists of preparing the land, improving and appropriating it to the intended tree planting, 

 which is then executed at the lowest possible cost. It aims to destroy the natural vegeta- 

 tion, to break up and aerate the soil and insure drainage, to improve the soil and add to its 

 mineral content by applying lime and chemicals, to improve further its physical condition by 

 increasing the power for retaining water, to enrich it with available nitrogen and with a 

 bacterial flora by using green manures, and to make the agricultural crop which follows the 

 green manure pay for the expenses and provide an appropriate medium in which to plant at 

 small cost with the maximum percentage of growth. — Chas. H. Otis. 



1279. ViKHAMMER, P. Granfro i Troms Fylke. [Spruce (Picea excelsa) seed in the 

 Troms district.] Tidsskr. Skogbr. 28: 218-220. 1920.— Tests were made of the number of 

 seed per cone, germination per cent, and number of young trees per cone of Norv/ay spruce at 

 the northern limit of its distribution (09° 21' north latitude in Norway). There were from 

 85 to 164 seeds per cone, a germination of from 5.7 to 34.2 per cent, and from to 10 plants per 

 cone. — /. A. Larsen. 



1280. Weber, Heinrich. Die deutsche Holzbewirtschaftung wahrend des Weltkrieges. 

 [Handling of German wood supply during the World War.] Allg. Forst- u. Jagdzeitg. 95: 

 89-99. 1919. — A complete review of the German wood supply situation during the World 

 War is presented. Germany has been a wood-importing country since 1870. At the outbreak 

 of the war 15 million cubic meters of wood were imported to meet the demands of industries. 

 The German forests in 1913 produced 28.66 million cubic meters of work wood, the consump- 

 tion of work wood being 43 million. The imported wood came from Russia (52.5 per cent) 

 Austria-Hungary (27.6 per cent), Norway and Sweden (7.3 per cent), U. S. A. (7.1 per cent), 

 and Finland (3.1 per cent). The enemy blockade was so complete and effective that practi- 

 cally all importation ceased. It became necessary to meet all demands from the forests at 

 home and in occupied territory. This compulsory transfer of operations meant a complete 

 reorganization of the wood-supply equipment. In order to meet the situation, there was 

 created a division of raw material in the Department of War. This suflSced for the first 2 

 years of the war when most of the wood was obtained from the enemj^ forests in occupied terri- 

 tory. Much wood was obtained from the territory occupied by the army of the East. In the 

 siunmer of 1916 a marked change took place in the conduct of the war. Excessive demands 

 came from all sides for many different forest products. The situation became so critical that 

 a central organization had to be created. Soon it was divided into 2 sections, and by 1917 

 there were 7 separate sections each with a distinct line of work. Three periods of development 

 in satisfying the wood-supply of the German army are recognized, (1) from the beginning of 

 the war to the spring of 1916, (2) from the spring of 1916 to December 1910, and (3) from 

 December 1910 to the end of the war. Special modifications of cutting and logging methods 

 were ordered and in spite of the heavy drain upon the forests the latter remain in a fairly good 

 condition. — Joseph S. Illick, 



1281. Webster, A. D. Brown oak timber. Gard. Chron. 69: 164. 1921.— This is a 

 strictly English product confined to the midland and eastern counties. The best timber 

 has been sent to America for thin veneers, 30-40 to the inch, on account of its great value. 

 The dining room of the White House at Washington is entirely panelled with it. The cause 

 of the change in color from white to a rich brown or chestnut is uncertain but is generally 

 ascribed to certain properties in the soil. The use of the wood for panelling has been known 

 from early Tudor times, although only since William the Stadholder came from Holland in 

 1685 has the most decorative method of wall panelling been adopted. Previous to that time 



