FORESTRY. 



51 



is, wlien the plantation was thinned tlio trees invariably branched lower, and while 

 making a more rapid increase in diameter made a slower upward growth. 



"(2) Some species grew with great uniformity, despite the variation in season, 

 while others presented a considerable difference from year to year. For example, 

 the catalpa, white ash, and yellow locust represented the greatest variation in annual 

 growth, both in height and diameter. The black cherry, black walnut, honey locust, 

 and oaks showed the least variation. In all cases the growth was the greatest when 

 there was the most rainfall during the growing season. 



"(3) When the foliage was injured or removed early in the season, or the early 

 growth was arrested by a severe drought, it took several years to overcome this check 

 to normal increase, no matter how favorable the seasons were immediately following. 



"(4) The greatest annual increase in diameter of trunk invariably took place in the 

 side most fully exposed to the light, but the greatest growth in length of branches 

 was often on the side not fully exposed. That is, although there was a greater 

 aggregate growth of limbs and branches on the most exposed side, the greatest 

 growth in length of single branches was frequently on the shady side. 



"(5) But one so-called 'annual ring' was formed each growing season, and this 

 was usually so well denned as to be easily counted. As a rule these rings furnish 

 not only a convenient but reliable record of the age of trees. 



"(6) The trees that made the most rapid growth were the following: Yellow locust, 

 black cherry, catalpa, white ash, and black walnut." 



The average height and diameter of ten specimens of several varieties 

 at the end of fifteen seasons' growth are shown in the following table: 



Growth of trees in fifteen seasons. 



noisht. 



Yellow or black locust 



IJIack cherry 



Catalpa 



White ash 



Black walnut 



The most rapid growth for any one year was made when the trees 

 were three years old. The growth during this season was as follows: 

 Yellow or black locust, 5 ft. 1 in. ; black cherry, 4 ft. 3 in.; catalpa, 3 ft. 

 7 in.; white ash, 4 ft. 10 in.; and black walnut, 3 ft. 7 in. 



Forestry conditions and interests of Wisconsin, F. Koth ( U. 8. 

 Dept. Agr., Division of Forestry Bui. 16, pp. 76, pi. 1). — This bulletin is 

 a report, by the author, of investigations made during the summer of 

 1807, in cooperation with the State Geological Survey of Wisconsin. 

 An introductory chapter is given by B. E. Fernow, chief of the divi- 

 sion, in which the object and methods of the investigation are outlined 

 and some conclusions and recommendations given. The inquiry was 

 undertaken in order to ascertain definite and authoritative knowledge 

 regarding the forest conditions of one of the most important regions of 

 lumber production. The wooded area of this region is steadily being 

 reduced by logging, and to some extent by clearing, and little or nothing 

 is done either to restock or protect the cut-over lands. The present 

 system is estimated to cause an annual loss of about 800,000,000 leet of 

 lumber. Of the 17,000,0U0 acres of forest lands, more than 8,000,000 



