FORESTRY. 149 



iuul Strassburg was examined at the eud of about 12 years, during which period 

 128,000 trains had passed over them. Of the total number of ties 178, or 22 

 per cent, were found still intact, 275, or 34 per cent, were found passable, and 

 .".nr), or 44 per cent, wore found poor. On the line between Paris and Miilhouse 

 a section of 224 Iieecli ties was examined at the end of 14 years, during which 

 time 100,000 trains had passed over them. Of the total number of ties 216 were 

 good, 7 passable, and one alone was poor. Beech ties, however, are liable to 

 split and should be bolted at the end. 



Production of red cedar for pencil wood, L. L. White (V. 8. Dcpt. Agr.. 

 Forest ticrv. Circ. 102, pp. 19). — The number of pencils manufactured in the 

 United States each year is given as something like 31.5,000,000, for the produc- 

 tion of which 300 tons, or 20,000 cu. ft. of wood are required daily, the greater 

 part of which is red cedar. 



In order to devise some method by which a future supply of cedar might be 

 secured a study was made in Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee, wliere condi- 

 tions are believed to be typical for cedar production. This circular contains 

 the results of these studies, in which 2 species of red cedar are dealt with, the 

 southern form {Juniperus harbadensis) and the northern from {J. virginiana) . 

 Among the phases considered are the commercial range, silvical character- 

 istics, methods of reproduction, present logging methods, and future management. 

 Two systems of management are discussed : " Woodlot management " to meet 

 the needs of the small timberland owners, and " management of large holdings " 

 for the use of pencil manufacturers in the position to grow their own timber. 



The text is accompanied with a planting plan and several tables regarding the 

 relation of diameter and crown width to age, the number of feet, total volume, 

 and percentage of heartwood in the used length, and the clear length and 

 total height at different diameters of forest-grown and open-grown cedar. Data 

 are also given in regard to the cost, yields, and financial returns of red cedar 

 jilantations. 



In order to have a constant supply of cedar on a 60-year rotation, it is esti- 

 mated that about 225.000 acres should be fully stocked, and it is suggested 

 that companies interested in this work purchase large holdings of suitable cedar 

 land and manage the tract on a basis of a sustained annual yield. 



The Douglas fir since its introduction into Europe (1828-1906), J. Booth 

 (AUg. Forst u. Jagd Ztg., 83 {1901), Jan., pp. 5-10; Feb., pp. .',5-50; Mar., 

 pp. 87-93; Apr., pp. 113-118). — This is an historical account of the cultivation 

 of the Douglas fir in Europe from its introduction in 1826 up to 1006. 



Acacia niacrocarpa, with, respect to its production of tannin, G. Barrion 

 {Bid. .S'oc. Eort. Tunisie, 6 {1907), lA'o. 25, pp. 79. SO). — An account is given of 

 the Acacia macrocarpa which has been cultivated for several years at the Tunis 

 experimental garden. The trees when pruned are used for hedges and are 

 said to yield a fusiform fruit from 6 to 10 cm. in length and weighing from 5 to 

 10 gm. when dried. 



Upon analyzing these fruits, the director of the agricultural chemistry labora- 

 tory found the scales, which composed 52 per cent of the fruit, to contain 14 

 per cent of tannic acid, or practically the same amount as is ol)tained from rich 

 tamiic barks. The tannin has given satisfactory results when used on fresh 

 hides and is to lie further tested by commercial leather manufacturers. 



The eucalyptus, A. Koyeb {Bill. 8oc. Hart. Tiiiiisic, 5 {1906), No.t. 22, pp. 

 :l07-2in; 23, pp. 271-277; 6 {1907), 21,, pp. 52-56; 25, pp. 95-99).— This is a mon- 

 ograph on the eucalyptus tree, including a general consideration of the genus 

 as a whole, botanical descriptions, history, discovery, and propagation, geo- 

 graphical distribution, classification of species according to soils and climate, 

 iiiilK>rtant uses, and acclimatization in North Africa, together with its uses, 



