550 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



bet'ii permanently improved by the applientiou of the mnleh, us the soil is more 

 moist and dark in color and the trees have a better surface root develoi)ment. 

 The experiment is believed to show that a large increase in the yield of cacao 

 can be obtained without the use of artificial manures and as mulching material 

 is abundant it appears wasteful and unnecessary to purchase other manures. 

 These results are believed to ansvper the question as to the best way to improve 

 cacao cultivation in Dominica. 



The results secured on the various fertilizer plats in the country districts 

 indicate the phosphatic manures are quite generally beneficial. 



Report of inspector of cocoanut plantations for the year 1905, L. C. Brown 

 {Ayr. Bui. Striiits and Fed. Malai/ t^tatcs, 8 (IDOU), Nu. 8, pp. 265-269).— The 

 area under cocoanuts in the Federated Malay States in the year 1905 was esti- 

 mated at 100,000 acres, on over half of which the trees were in bearing. An 

 account is given of the acreage in each of the different districts and of the 

 prevalent insects and diseases affecting the crop, with notes on cultivation, 

 marketing, copra, oil production, etc. 



FORESTRY. 



Indian trees, D. Bbandis (London: Archibald Constable d Co., 1906, pp. 

 XX XIV +761, figs. 201).— Th\s book is a systematic account of the trees, 

 shrubs, woody climbers, bamboos, and palms indigenous or commonly cultivated 

 in the British Indian Empire. It is designed for the use of foresters and others 

 who wish to make themselves acquainted with Indian trees. The arrangement 

 is botanical, and descriptions are given of over 4,400 species, 201 of which are 

 illustrated. The author states that the book is not intended for botanists, but 

 rather for foresters and practical men, and on this account species of doubtful 

 value or which are imperfectly known have, as a rule, been omitted. 



Forests as accumulators of nitrogen, E. Henry (Bnl. 8oc. Forest. Franche- 

 Comtc et Bel fort, 8 (1906), No. 7, pp. 681-695).— The author discusses the 

 increase in nitrogen content of soils on which forests are grown and cites the 

 recent work of M. Siichting and L. Montemartini, which is confirmatory of the 

 author's experiments in showing that the dead leaves of forests are capable of 

 fixing a considerable amount of free atmospheric nitrogen (E. S. R., 16, p. 444). 



Fertilizer experiments in forest nurseries, Schalk (Forstic. Centbl., n. ser., 

 28 (W06), No. 11, pp. 56!)-57!), pis. S, py. 1). — The results are given of a number 

 of experiments in fertilizing forest nursery trees. The experiments were carried 

 out on rather swampy land 1,500 to 2,000 ft. above sea level and very subject to 

 late spring frosts. The soil in the nursery was poor, as shown by the fact that 

 spruce trees after 4 years stood hardly 15 cm. high. 



When the soil was fertilized with 6 kg. Thomas slag, 3 kg. kainit, 1.5 kg. nitrate 

 of soda per acre, the trees attained a height of 25 to 30 cm. at the end of 2 

 years. In a number of further experiments it was shown that fertilizing with 

 composted lime, while giving good results, was surpassed in usefulness by com- 

 plete fertilizers. Potash fertilizer was in no wise unnecessary, for it was only 

 when this fertilizer was used that the full effect of phosphatic and nitrogenous 

 fertilizers were obtained. This was true even on clay soils sui)posed to be well 

 supplied with potash. Kainit appeared to be somewhat more effective early 

 in the season than other forms of potash. 



The use of lime in addition to Thomas slag increased the effect of the latter 

 in a visible manner, but was not entirely necessary. Uninoculated lupines were 

 of no benefit in preparing the land for nursery stock, but when Inoculated they 

 made a full development and produced practically as good results as other 



