No. 2, March, 1921] FOREST BOTANY AND FORESTRY 119 



811. Patton, R. T. On the growth, treatment and structure of some common hardwoods. 

 Proc. Roy. See. Victoria 31 (N. S.): 394-411. PL 21, 7 fig. 1919.— The forest management, 

 the seasoning, and some notes on the structure of mountain ash. Eucalyptus regnans, are dis- 

 cussed. At present there are no managed forests of known age, so that methods of con- 

 structing yield tables must be worked out. Schlich's method of selecting an average tree 

 per plot is criticized. An average of as many typical trees as possible is preferred. Diffi- 

 culty is experienced in counting rings after ninety years. Some data are also given on black- 

 wood, Acacia melanoxylon. Growth curves of the two Australian species are compared with 

 curves for cluster pine from Portugal and for spruce. Rapid growth is apparent from the first, 

 but the eucalypt appears to have an anomalous growth curve. No evidence for the reputed 

 slow growth of blackwood was found. Good cabinet timber could be grown in forty years. 

 Doubt was expressed concerning the statement that mountain ash will grow an average 

 30-inch butt in 40 years; also concerning current height growth figures for eucalypts. The 

 tallest seen by the writer were 261 and 249 feet, respectively. There is an ofiicial record 

 of 326 feet. In the yield curves, relations were established between diameter and height, 

 in order to get a workable relation between height and age. Taper in mountain ash was found 

 to be 0.36 inch of the circumference per foot of ascent. Thirty-nine to forty-one trees per 

 acre were found; 50 per acre were advocated, and spacing is as discussed. Seeding 10,000 to 

 12,000 to the acre was considered about satisfactory. A full and well-formed crown was the 

 end in view. — Natural seasoning conditions are so favorable that doubt is expressed as to the 

 need for kiln drying on a large scale. The fallacy of steaming "to open the pores" is dis- 

 cussed. A test of the effect of steaming on seasoning is given. Matched pieces lost moisture 

 at the same rate, but after three months the steamed pieces began to shrink more than the 

 unsteamed. This was explained as due to a slight breaking down of the wood structure. It 

 was concluded that there is no justification for this practice or for that of end-stacking. A 

 free supply of air on all sides of the material is advocated, and the drying of different surfaces 

 is discussed. The possibility of determining moisture content by measuring electrical resist- 

 ance is mentioned. — The simple structure of mountain ash with its evenly distributed large 

 pores (average radial diameter, 0.253 mm.) is pointed out, and tests on the length of these 

 are described. The fibers averaged about 1 mm. in length. Sapling fibers were slightly 

 longer than those formed later. The uniseriate rays were very numerous and said to contain 

 nuclei in the cells at the center of trees over 100 years old. No starch was found. The fibers 

 at the center were imperfectly lignified. It is thought that good forestry would reduce the 

 amount of immature wood formed. Tyloses were often associated with the nuclei. In E. 

 obliqua tyloses were reported "right up against the cambium." Mountain ash hardens greatly 

 when dried. Its tannin content is objectionable for its use as pulp. — Eloise Gerry. 



812. PiLLiCHODY, A. Aus dem Grossen Risouxforst. [The great forest of Rlsoux.] 

 Schweiz. Zeitschr. Forstw. 71 : 177-179. 1 pi. 1920. — The Risoux Forest is a large unbroken 

 tract of virgin forest along the French border, stretching over 15 kilometers. It contains 

 2277 ha. (about 5,690 acres) and is one of the few unbroken tracts of forest land. No utili- 

 zation of timber from this tract was made until 1904; a road was then built through it, which 

 made possible the use of firewood and poles. A stand of 316 m^. per ha. covers the area, con- 

 sisting of about 80 per cent spruce, 10 per cent fir, and 10 per cent beech. The forest is 

 from 300 to 350 years old. Where old trees have died or fallen, groups of young trees have 

 sprung up. Such groups usually are suppressed and do not survive. Beech forms an under- 

 story and also, by shading, serves in clearing the conifer trunks of small side branches. Diam- 

 eter classes were taken in 1911 which showed the following percentages in each class: 16-18 

 cm., 12 per cent; 30-48 cm., 44 per cent; 50 cm. and over, 44 per cent. — J. V. Hofmann. 



813. PiLLiCHODY, A. Verschiedenes Verbal ten gegen Windstromung. [Varying reaction 

 to wind pressure.] Schweiz. Zeitschr. Forst. 71:154-155. 1 pi. 1920.— Canadian popple 

 and Italian popple were planted at Wallis where they were exposed to severe winds consistently 

 from one direction. At 30 years of age Canadian popple showed a stem decidedly inclined 

 in the direction away from that of the prevailing wind. It produced a good growth and devel- 



