20 FORESTRY [BoT. Absts., Vol. VIII, 



155. Anonymous. The timbers of commerce. [Rev. of: Howard, A. L. A manual of 

 the timbers of the world, their characteristics and uses, xvi + H6 p. Macmillan and Co. : 

 London, 1920.] Nature 106: 80-81. 2 fig. 1920.— "Mainly a descriptive account of the 

 commercial uses. . . . practically confined to those imported into London and Liver- 

 pool. . . . book, in short, is excellent on the commercial side." — 0. A. Stevens. 



156. Arens, p. Ziju aan het tappen met driptris voordeelen verbonden? [Does tapping 

 with driptins give any advantage?] Mededeel. Proefsta. Malang [Java] 25. 1-16. 1919.— 

 Reprinted from the Arch. Rubbercult. 3: 36-41. 1919.— Cari D. La Rue. 



157. Bennett, H. C. Progress report of forest administration in Coorg for 1918-19. 27 p. 

 Bangalore, British India, 1920. — An annual report with appended tabulated data. The 

 reserved forests now total 520 square miles. The proportion of total forest area open to cattle 

 increased from 71 to 86 per cent and the number of animals grazed increased from 2985 to 13,376. 

 All spike experiments with sandal by burning the area have given negative results with one 

 exception where a tree was found to have become spiked by this treatment. Owing chiefly to 

 reduction in output and decrease in price of sandalwood the revenue of the province fell 

 below that of the previous year. — E. R. Hodson. 



158. Blunt, A. W. Progress report of forest administration in the province of Assam for 

 1918-19. 59 p. Shillong, British India, 1919.— An annual report covering in some detail all 

 forest operations. At the end of the year the total area of the reserved forests of the province 

 was 5495 square miles representing a net increase in the last five years of 1,114 sq. mi. Owing 

 to reservation of forests and the extension of cultivation, the area of unclassed State forests 

 was reduced by the close of the year to 10,050 sq. mi. The total decrease during the last 

 five years was 2092 sq. mi. A systematic division of waste lands into those suitable and those 

 unsuitable for reservation, which will greatly help in establishing a definite scheme of reser- 

 vation, is now being made. During the last five years the annual surplus has averaged 

 450,516 Rs. The forest devastation caused by sugarcane cultivation is noted. "It is the 

 most destructive of all forms of shifting cultivation, and after a crop of sugarcane has been 

 taken off an acre for 3 or 4 years in succession nothing will grow except weeds and hardy 

 shrubs like the Eupatorium oderatum." A species of Peridermium, closely allied to P. cere- 

 brum Peck, is attacking Pinus khasya but is confined to elevations over 5500 feet. A report 

 was submitted on the damages caused by floods and protection of catchment areas at the 

 head-waters of rivers, but action has tjeen postponed until the services of a special oflBcer 

 become available. The usual formal tabulated summaries are. appended and a map of the 

 province is included. — E. R. Hodson. 



159. Boas, I. H. The manufacture of alcohol from waste wood or sawdust. Australian 

 Forest. Jour. 3: 269-270. 1920.— The development of this industry is traced especially with 

 reference to conditions in America. — C. F. Korstian. 



160. Carleton, M. B. The soap nut tree. Amer. Forestry 26: 621. 1 fig. 1920. 



161. Dacy, G. H. Where willow ware comes from. Sci. Amer. 123:222, 235. 6 fi^. 

 1920. — How the willow tree is grown and tended to yield the raw materials of furniture and 

 basket factories. — Chas. H. Otis. 



162. DiEDEN, Henrik. Om Skogsforhallandena pa Island. [Forest conditions In Iceland.] 

 Skogen 6: 293-300. Fig. 1-7. 1919.— About 1000 years ago when Iceland was colonized by 

 the Vikings large portions of the island were forested. The forests, however, were gradually 

 destroyed by cutting and fire followed by drifting sands, while sheep grazing prevented or at 

 least greatly interfered with reproduction. At present 500 square kilometers are classified 

 as forest land, but of this only 500 hectares are forested. Practically all lumber is now 

 imported from Sweden and Norway. High prices incident to transportation charges have ne- 

 cessitated the use of all kinds of wood substitutes for fuel and construction. Steps are now 



