SEEDS WEEDS. 363 



prized coniferoii8 tree is said to possess an agreeable odor, something like that of 

 peppermint, and is extensively used as a material for the manufacture of sake casks. 

 The sake stored in them acquires a peculiarly agreeable aroma, which is supposed to 

 be due to the presence of some principle in the wood. In order to ascertain the 

 nature of this principle, the author distilled 2 kg. of the wood and obtained 13 cc. of 

 an oily substance, which had the characteristic smell of the original wood. This 

 was subjected to a fractional distillation, the greatest quantity coming off at a tem- 

 perature of between 260 and 270° C. To this the author has given the name sugiol, 

 from the Japanese name of the tree. It is an oil of neutral reaction, almost com- 

 pletely insoluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. 

 Its boiling point is 264° C. and specific gravity 0.935. 



The effect of lightning on trees, D. T. M.\cDougal {Jour. New York Bot. Gard., 

 3 {1902), No. 31, ])p. 131-135). — The effect of lightning on a number of trees in the 

 New York Botanical Garden is described, and an examination showed that the part 

 of the tree containing the greatest proportion of starch, glucose, or other sugars offers 

 the least resistance to the passage of electric currents, and the parts containing 

 oily material offers the greatest resistance. In consequence, lightning discharges 

 generally pass through a tree trunk in the growing layers and sap wood, and the 

 actual amount of mechanical injury will depend upon the size of the discharging 

 flash. A more or less constant discharge is said to be taking place through trees, 

 and it is only when the difference in potential becomes very great that a lightning 

 stroke results. 



The work in dendro-chemistry, W. H. Kri(; {Fort'gtnj (iml Jrru/., 8 {1902), No. 

 5, pp. 202-205). — An outline is given of proposed investigations in the laboratory 

 which has been established in connection with the Bureau of Chemistry of this 

 Department. The first work taken up by the laboratory was the study of the chemi- 

 cal composition of the wood and bark of a number of species of oaks, to which have 

 been added the investigations of the Western hemlock, and other species will be 

 taken up in time. 



The lumber industry, H. (tannett ( Twelfth Census United States, Census Bui. 203, 

 pp. 97). — According to this bulletin, at the time the twelfth census was taken there 

 were 33,035 establishments engaged in the lumber industry in the United States. 

 The amount of lumber produced by mills was 35,084,166 ft. B. M., valued at $566,- 

 832,984. Comparative summaries are drawn showing the condition of the lumber 

 industry as revealed by the different census reports from 1850 to 1900. The owner- 

 ship, capital, and product of the different establishments are shown, together with 

 the different logging establishments, sawmills, shingle, and planing mills. The dif- 

 ferent timber regions of the United States are outlined, and statements given relative 

 to the average stand of the timber and its ownership. The distributi(m and cut of 

 the more important woods, such as white pine, spruce, hendock, cypress. Southern 

 yellow pine, Western yellow pine, sugar pine, red fir, redwood, and hard woods are 

 given, and the timber regions of the different States described. 



SEEDS WEEDS. 



Agricultural seeds — -where grown and how^ handled, A. J. Pieteks ( U. S. 

 Dept. Ayr. Yearbook 1901, pp. 233-256, pis. 4, Jigs. 2). — A brief reviev*- is given of the 

 production of agricultural seeds in the United States, the centers of production of a 

 number of the more important varieties being given. The seed production of differ- 

 ent cereals, clovers, grasses, fiber plants, and nuscellaneous agricultural products is 

 briefly described, the distribution indicated, and methods of harvesting shown. 

 Charts are given showing the distribution of seed-producing centers throughout the 

 United States. 



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