1148 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



operations in tlie nortliern, contra 1. soutliern, and Sind forest circles, including 

 a report on the constitution of State forests, the preparation of working plans, 

 forest survey and fire protection work, sylvicultural operations and exidoita- 

 tion, together with financial stateiments for the year. The important data are 

 tabulated. 



Report of the chief, forestry division, K. A. Carlson {Dept. Agr. Orange 

 River Colony, Ann. /?/jf.. 3 {1006-7), pp. J 07-151, pis. J/). — A progress report 

 on forestry operations in the Orange River Colony for the year ending June 

 30, 1907. In addition to the statements relative to planting oi^erations, advisory 

 work, sale and distribution of trees, and finances, considerable talmlated data 

 are given showing the effect of frost at the end of May, 11X)7, on a large variety 

 of planted trees. 



Annual report upon state forest administration in South Australia for 

 the year ended June 30, 1907, W. CiiLL and E. .1. Fikld (.1///). Itpf. State 

 Forest Admin. /?o. Aiist., 1906-7. jip. 12. ])ls. 5). — A brief account of the year's 

 planting and other forest operations, with tabulated data showing the areas 

 of forest i-eserves and plantations, the planthig and distriluition of trees, further 

 data on date palm culture (E. S. R., is, p. 830), and a financial statement. 



The report is accompanied with u series of jdates illustrating specimen trees 

 and forestry operations in South Australia. 



The steaming of timber, O. Chanute (Sei. Anier. Sup., G.'i (1907), No. 166.'/, 

 pp. 323, 324). — ^An abstract from an address delivered before the National Asso- 

 ciation of Wood Preservers, in which the author discusses the advisability of 

 steaming wood for the purpose of cleaning saj) cells previous to the injection 

 of preservatives. The iTsual methods of treatment are reviewed and a sum- 

 maiy is given of his results fi-om a large number of experiments along this 

 line. 



With half seasoned ties, air-dried from 4 to 6 mouths, more sap was extracted 

 by 1 to 3 hours steaming than could be extracted from fresh cut ties by 3 to r, 

 hours steaming at 20 lbs. pressure. With fully seasoned ties, or those seasoned 

 from 6 to 12 months from the cutting, steaming sometimes increased the weight 

 and at others diminished it within a range of 2 per cent either way. When 

 chlorid of zinc was used as a preservative it was found that for fully seasoned 

 ties more could be injected when the steaming was omitted, since a certain 

 percentage of the condensed steam remained in the wood, thus reducing the 

 quantity of solution which could be forced into the tie. The general conclusion 

 is reached that whether or not it is advisable to resort to steaming depends 

 altogether on the condition of the wood at the time it is to be preserved. 



As a result of these experiments the practice has been developed at the works 

 of the author of refusing to treat fresh cut ties and to begin the spring season's 

 treating by steaming unless the ties are of the previous year's cutting, when the 

 steaming is omitted. Steaming is also omitted in the summer and autumn 

 when the ties prove to be well seasoned. 



Propagation of camphor, J. K. Nock (Cires. and Agr. Jour. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

 Ceylon, Jf {1907), A"o. 3, pp. 13-20, figs. 2). — Brief popular directions are given 

 for the propagation of camphor by seeds, layers, branch and root cuttings, and 

 suckers. 



Rubber planting in Mexico and Central America, P. Olsson-Seffer (Agr. 

 Bui. Straits and Fed. Malay States, 6 {1907), Xo. 1, pp. 1-31 ; Bui. Dept. Agr. 

 [Jamaica], 5 {1907), Xo. 10-11, pp. 191-222).— This article is published with a 

 view of furnishing information relative to the present condition of the cultivated 

 rubber industry in the above-named countries. 



The author uses the name " Castilla " instead of the common term " Cas- 

 tilloa," as the former is said to have the right of priority. Consideration is 



