052 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Moisture the plant's greatest requirement, J. C. Arthur (Amer. Florist, 13 

 (1898), No. 508, pp. 813, 814; Florists' Exchange, 10 (1898), Xo. 9, pp. 215, 216, fig. 1; 

 New England Florist, 4 (1S98), Xo. 1, pp. 3-5).— A paper read before the American 

 Carnation Society at Chicago. It deals with the water requirements of plants, 

 with special reference to carnation culture. The author believes that a constant 

 stream of water through the plant is required for healthful development and recom- 

 mends that carnations be grown in an atmosphere sufficiently dry to insure consid- 

 erable evaporation from their leaves and that, to keep the air from becoming too 

 moist, subwatering be practiced. Other advantages of subwatering are also noted. 



McGregor's new book on growing flowers, McGregor Bros. (Sgring field, Ohio: 

 McGregor Bros., 1S97, pp. 104). — A book of practical suggestions on the care aud 

 management of flowers in the house and garden, with culture directions for such 

 plants as require special treatment. 



FORESTRY. 



Afforestation of abandoned fields on the Biltmore estate, C. A. 

 SCHENCK (Forester, 4 (1898), No. 4, pp. 78-80). — A report is given of 

 the cost of planting in the fall of 1S97 about 45 acres of abandoned 

 fields on the Biltmore estate. These fields had been exhausted or the 

 slope of the ground was too steep to permit of profitable use for field 

 crops or pasturage. The varieties of seed planted were walnut, buck- 

 eye, white oak, chestnut oak, hickory, red oak, and chestnut. The 

 total expense of the planting, except that of the salary of the ranger 

 who superintended the work, and allowance for wear and tear of tools 

 is given. 



The white and chestnut oak seeds were planted 4 in. apart in the 

 rows, the buckeye and red oak 8 in., and the walnut and hickory 12 in. 

 The rows were 3 to 4 ft. apart, according to the slope of the ground, . 

 those on the steep slopes being a wider distance apart so as to allow 

 cultivation without injury to the seedlings. The aggregate expenses 

 are said to be higher than necessary under ordinary conditions of affor- 

 estation, as there was a desire for quick results. 



In order to check the ravages of field mice it was necessary to culti- 

 vate the different plantations about four times at a cost of about 40 

 cts. per acre. After about the third growing season the roots of the 

 seedlings will be strong enough to offer resistance. 



The cost of planting an acre varied from $5.70 in the case of chestnuts 

 to $16.20 in one of the white oak plantations. However, the author 

 states that the average cost should not exceed $12 per acre. 



Assuming that the plantations will be ready for cutting within 100 

 years, and placing a fair estimate upon the present value of the laud, 

 taxes, administration, etc., the author states that the indications are 

 favorable to a production which will represent 2i per cent compound 

 interest on the investment. This would require a stumpage of about 

 40,000 B. M. per acre. In addition to the yield of lumber there will be 

 immediate returns in the way of firewood, tan bark, fence posts, seeds, 

 etc., which will render the interest on the capital invested considerably 

 higher than the amount stated. 



