150 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



properties, products, and defects, aud a description of some of the better species 

 growing in North Africa, including characteristics, soil, climate, cultivation, and 

 uses. 



The work concludes with directions for the culture of the eucalyptus, embrac- 

 ing sowing, nursery practices, shading, hybridizing, and selection. The author 

 is of the opinion that the introduction and culture of the eucalyptus in Mediter- 

 ranean Africa is one of the most remarkable and useful agricultural experiments 

 of the past century. 



Tapping Funtumia rubber, H. H. Bell (Agr. News [Barbados], 6 {1907), 

 No. 121, J). 77). — The writer gives an account of the tapping of Funtumia elastica. 

 or " Lagos silk rubber " in the Budonga forest in Uganda, Africa, together 

 with a description of the ti'eatment of the latex. The trees are tapped every 

 3 months on different sides of the trunk. The average yield of the latex at each 

 tapping is given as about 1 qt. per tree, with an annual average yield of 1 lb. of 

 pure rubber. The process of coagulation is described. It is stated that a con- 

 siderable quantity of Funtumia has been planted in the West Indies in the last 

 2 or P> years. Rubber from this tree is now selling in London at 5s. Gd. per 

 pound, a price almost equaling that obtained for the best Para rubber. 



The valuation of rubber, M. Calmon {Bol. Dii: Agr. BaJiia, .9 (1907), Noft. 

 1, pp. 1-32; 2, pp. 117-]5-'i). — This is a report of the commissioner of agriculture 

 and industry on the production and commerci;il importance of rubber, including 

 an account of the development of the industry in all of the important rubber- 

 producing countries and a large nmnber of statistics taken from various sources 

 with i-espect to the exploitation, the imports and exports of crude rubber, and 

 the commerce in articles made of rubber in the various rubber-consuming 

 countries. 



The open-tank method for the treatment of timber, C. G. Crawford (TJ. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Forest Serv. Circ. 101, pp. 15, figs. Ji). — This method of treating tim- 

 ber was originated by the Forest Service as a result of experiments conducted 

 to obtain some cheap and simple process of wood preservation adapted for tim- 

 ber in common use for which the pressure methods are too expensive. In this 

 circular consideration is given to the history, description, theory, aud methods 

 employed in the open-tank process, with its application and limitations. De- 

 scriptions follow of the necessary apparatus, together with diagrams of experi- 

 mental tanks for treating fence posts, telephone poles, and mine timbers, as well 

 as a diagram of a small commercial plant. 



The open-tank method is based upon the use of an open tank, capable of with- 

 standing heat, and either equipped with steam coils or so arranged that a fire 

 can be placed luiderneath. Extensive experiments by the Forest Service with 

 fence posts, telephone poles, and mine timbers have given satisfactory results, 

 and it is believed that any of the preservatives in general use can be applied by 

 the open-tank method for the treatment of fence posts, telephone poles, .mine 

 props, small dimension timber, cross-ties, piling, and similar timbers, provided 

 that the temperatures are properly controlled. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Report of the biological division, F. L. Stevens (North Carolina f^ta. Rpt. 

 1905. pp. 20-29). — A sununary is given of the investigations carried on by the 

 biologist of the station during the period covered by the report, the principal 

 observations being on the disease of tobacco known as Granville wilt. Among 

 the miscellaneous notes, accounts are given of the asparagus rust, which has 

 become quite destructive in portions of North Carolina and for which sulphur 

 applications ai'e recommended; the powdery mildew of the rose, to prevent 



