,J\ ,!M:v. 19 D| FORESTRY 3 



tance rail transportation of wood is not economical. Domestic consumers in rural districts and 

 small cities can most easily substitute wood fuel for coal. Most type ol tovi and fur- 

 naces can he adapted to the use of wood. Excepl in case of plant- which u -e t heir own wood 

 refuse, or others in the close vicinity of plants, wood fuel is less economical than coal for fac- 

 tories. When coal can not be had, « I can be used with fairly satisfactory results, am 



cheaper than shutting down a plant. The widespread use of wood for fuel, if only such woo I 

 as is best fitted for the purpose be taken, will be of great benefit to our forests as well as a 

 source of revenue to their owners. Organized effort by community, municipality or State 

 organizations will be required to promote the general use of wood fuel. Such effort will 

 have to stimulate the demand for wood and its production, as well as direct organization of the 

 producing, the transporting, and the marketing of fuelwood. Where a possibility of fuel 

 shortage exists, reserves of fuelwood should be established, preferably in the nature of muni- 

 cipal wood yards. The comparative fuel values, and their percentages in terms of short ton 

 coal values, both for air dry and green condition, are presented for 135 species of American 

 woods. — C. H. Guise. 



12. Larsbn, J. A. Comparison of seed testing sand and in the Jacobsen germinator. Jour. 

 Forest. 16:690-695. Oct., 1918. — In an argumentative article, the merits of the Jacobsen 

 germinator are set forth. It is pointed out that the sand tests are not uniform and that the 

 only factor in the sand test which is not a variable is the sand itself, and in addition, this is 

 the least important of the germinating factors. In the Jacobsen germinator, the external fac- 

 tors are controlled to a large degree. Moisture is regulated by the height of water in the tank, 

 the size of the water wicks and the amount of air admitted. Heat can be controlled by the 

 use of either gas or alcohol burners, or by hot water systems beneath the tank. Through two 

 seasons tests of germination with species of Larix, Pinus, Picea, Pseudotsuga, Tsuja and 

 Thuja, the germinator gave the much higher percentage of germination, and all except Tsuga 

 a greater maximum rate and earlier beginning. It is claimed that by using the germinator, 

 more uniform results are secured, the work can be duplicated and standardized, while in addi- 

 tion, the light, heat and moisture can be controlled and measured, and conditions in the tests 

 observed at any time, the seed being removable at will. The germinator possesses the eco- 

 nomic advantages of low initial cost and upkeep, and is adaptable to a variety of uses and 

 conditions while at the same time being comparatively mobile. — Why the germinator should 

 give the best results is largely a matter of conjecture and it would appear from the elimina- 

 tion of the other factors that it might be due to the w r ater vapor, the greater heat energy 

 moist air causing the very rapid germination. — E. N. Munns. 



13. Smith, Franklix. Pulpwood consumption and wood pulp production in 1917. U. S. 

 Dept. Agric. Bull. 758. 17 p. 1 fig. 1919. A total consumption in 1917 of 5,4S0,075 cords of 

 pulpwood was reported by 241 establishments, an increase of 251,517 cords or 5 per cent over 

 the estimated total consumption in 1916. Spruce formed 56 per cent, hemlock 14 per cent and 

 poplar 7 per cent of all pulpwood consumed. Yellow pine, tamarack, Douglas fir, basswood, 

 white pine, beech, birch, chestnut, and maple were consumed in quantities considerably greater 

 than during the previous year, but their use is confined to the regions to which these species 

 are indigenous. Of the 5,480,075 cords converted, 28 per cent went into the production of 

 ground wood pulp, 53 per cent into sulphite, 15 per cent into soda, and 4 per cent into sulphate. 

 Spruce is about evenly reduced as between the mechanical and sulphite processes, while S9 

 per cent of hemlock is reduced by the sulphite process and 93 per cent of the poplar by the 

 soda process. Average cost per cord of wood advanced from S8.76 per cord in 1916, to SI 1.10 per 

 cord in 1917, f.o.b. mill, though individual costs range from $6.00 to as high as $25.00. Taking 

 the states as a whole, approximately 54 per cent of pvdpwood was transported under 150 

 miles, and another 35 per cent between 150 and 400 miles. In 1917, 1,031,934 cords of pulp- 

 wood were imported, at an average value of SS.30 per cord, an increase of 27 per cent over the 

 cost of the previous year. Imported spruce and aspen formed 14 per cent of the quantity 

 used in 1917 in comparison with 15 per cent of the year before. The production of wood pulp 

 totaled 3,509,939 tons, an increase of 74,938 tons, or 2 per cent, over the 1916 reported total 

 output. Of the total output ions, or 44 per cent, was manufactured by the 



