154 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED. 



A forestry plantation after thirty years, E. Eeevks {Proc. Iowa Park and 

 Forestry Assoc, 1 {1901), p}). 21-24)- — An account is given of a plantation made in 

 1869 which inchided about 8 acres of European larch and about an acre each of 

 Scotch, Austrian, and white pine, and Norway and l)lack spruce. Besides this, 

 seeds of soft maple, white ash, white elm, box elder, walnut, butternut, chestnut, 

 and catalpa were planted. On the whole, the larch made the most satisfactory 

 growth, followed by the white pine. The best specimens of larch were a foot in 

 diameter and 60 ft. in height in 1901. The white pine had attained nearly the same 

 diameter and a height of about 35 ft., the other species showing less satisfactory 

 _growth. The catalpa did not prove hardy and was several times killed back by the 

 severe cold of winter. The only returns received fi'om this plantation were about $200 

 worth of telephone poles cut in January, 1900. As the land was estimated as being 

 worth $55 per acre, the author does not believe that the planting was a financial 

 success. 



Shelter planting", W. M. Bomberger {Proc. loica Park and Forestry Assoc, 1 

 {1901), pp. 18-21). — The author describes his experience in planting shelter belts on 

 2 farms, by which ample protection was secured in from 8 to 9 years. He suggests 

 that in planting such belts the Scotch and Austrian pine among evergreens and the 

 Cottonwood of deciduous trees are the best to begin with. After these are established 

 other species may be introduced as occasion demands. Clean cultivation of the rows 

 should be continued for 1 or 2 years after the grove is planted, and on the whole the 

 trees should be set at distances of about 8 by 8 ft. The white pine is said to be one 

 of the best species for such planting, and although making little growth for the first 

 few years, it afterwards made a terminal growth of 18 to 32 in. per season, depend- 

 ing upon the moisture and other conditions. During the first 3 winters a mulch of 

 brush or straw is said to be of decided advantage in protecting the trees. 



Forest trees for park purposes, J. T. D. Fulmer {Proc Iowa Park and Forestry 

 Assoc, 1 {1901), pp. 29-33). — The relative value of a number of trees for park pur- 

 poses in Iowa is indicated. Among the trees described are the ash, box elder, l)uck- 

 eye or horse chestnut, sycamore, elm, various maples, chestnut, poplar, hackberry, 

 and several species of oak. 



The decay of timber and methods of preventing it, H. von Schrenk ( U. S. 

 Dept. Ayr., Bureau of Plant Industry Bui. U, pp- 96, jds. 17,fiys. ;?7).— This bulletin 

 gives a report in Mdiich the structure of timber is considered and the factors which 

 cause the decay of wood are described at some length. Accounts are given of 

 attempts which have been made to preserve timber from decay. An experiment 

 which has been begun in coimection with some railroads in eastern Texas is briefly 

 described. In this experiment railroad ties consisting of different varieties of oak, 

 beech, hemlock, tamarack, and pine have been subjected to a number of different 

 treatments which are claimed to protect the ties against decay. These railroad ties 

 have been treated and laid in the usual manner of railroad construction, and records 

 will be kept of the length of their service. In connection with his investigations, 

 the author visited various countries in Europe, and gives a report on the results of 

 timber impregnation experiments in those countries. An appendix to the report 

 shows the forms of specifications and contracts which are in use at present by various 

 European lines of railway. 



SEEDS— WEEDS. 



The intramolecular respiration of seeds, E. Godlewski and J. Polzeniusz 

 {Ann. Agron., 28 {1902), No. 3, pp. 151-165).— This article gives the results of an 

 extensive series of experiments with seeds and various fungi, in which the intra- 

 molecular respiration was studied. The authors claim that their investigations show 

 a marked analogy between intramolecular respiration and alcoholic fermentation, if 



