342 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



cool greenhouse in March, and came into flower in a few daj'S. The flowers 

 had the characteristic color and fragrance of wild ones and were of large size. 



Plants kept in a greenhouse all winter flowered only sparingly but permitted 

 of a study of the fruit which is not a locullcidal capsule as generally described. 

 Its style of dehiscence is given as "septicidally or rather marginicidally sop- 

 tifragal." In examples of perfect development the wall of the fruit while still 

 green and herbaceous splits along the cell partitions into 5 valves which spread 

 backward into a 5-poiuted rosette, exposing the white, fleshy, succulent interior 

 with the minute brown seeds dotted over its surface. The fleshy part, which 

 resembles an unripe strawberry, is about i in. in diameter and consists of 

 the whole interior of the fruit, axis, and dissepiments as well as placentae. 



The small garden beautiful, A. C. Curtis (London, 1909, rev. ed., pp. X-{- 

 155, })ls. 25, fig. 1). — A popular treatise on garden design, discussing the ground 

 work, the herbaceous border, hardy perennial plants and bulbs, small rock and 

 water gardens, roses, shrubs and climbers, and the small kitchen garden. A 

 number of garden plans are included in the illustrations. 



The suburban g-arden guide: Planting- time-tables, how and when to 

 spray, what to grow — and how, P. T. Barnes {ISlew York, Harrisiurg, Pa., 

 and Chicago, 1911, pp. 64). — ^A concise popular handbook of information. 



Report of the Board of Metropolitan Park Commissioners (Rpt. [Mass.] 

 Bd. Metropol. Park Comrfi., 18 (VJIO). pp. 158, pis. 7, maps 6). — This is a report 

 of the Metropolitan Park Commissioners of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

 It comprises the reports of the commissioners, the secretary, and the engineer, 

 and a financial statement for the year. The reports of work conducted on vari- 

 ous projects are appended. 



FORESTRY, 



The commercial woods of the United States and their uses, G. T. Sttrface 

 (Bui. Geogr. ,S'oc. Philadelphia, 8 {1910), A^o. 3, pp. 20-3-'/, pis. 5).— The author 

 outlines briefly the geographic timber belts and the important merchantable 

 species occurring in each belt, points out the factors governing the adaptation 

 and value of wood, and indicates the kinds of wood suitable for various classes 

 of construction. 



The aspens: Their growth and management, W. G. Weigle and E. H. 

 Frothingham (U. S. Dept. Agr., Forest Serv. Bui. 93, pp. 35). — This bulletin 

 presents important facts concerning the aspens and suggests methods by which 

 aspen stands may be profitably managed. 



The phases discussed include the species of aspens and how to distinguish 

 them, the wood and its use, pulp-wood logging, general and commercial range of 

 the aspen, climatic, soil, and moisture requirements of the tree, its growth, size, 

 and longevity, susceptibility to injury, and reproduction by seed and by suckers. 

 Aspen stands are discussed relative to their origin, development, and decadence 

 in the Northeast and their management, both as temporary and permanent 

 crops. Volume tables for aspen are appended. The chief uses of the aspen at 

 present are for paper, pulp, excelsior, and fuel. 



Properties and uses of Douglas fir, McG. Cline and J. B. Knapp ( U. 8. 

 Dept. Agr., Forest Serv. Bui. 88, pp. 75, i)ls. 3, dgms. 15). — Since 1903 the 

 Forest Service has been making a comprehensive series of tests to determine the 

 mechanical properties of the commercial woods of the United States, general 

 summaries of the results secured having been previously noted (E. S. R., 19, 

 p. 651). 



Part 1 of this bulletin, which deals with the mechanical properties of Douglas 

 fir, is based on tests made in cooperation with the University of California, 



