450 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of forestry work. To do this it was determined to grow the tree stock rather than 

 buv seedlino-s from nurser}anen. A half acre was prepared and sown in white pine 

 seed, a production of from 200,000 to 250,000 seedHngs being expected. Besides the 

 seed sown there were planted in the nursery 10,000 1-year-old white pine seedlings 

 and a start was made on a permanent plantation by the setting out of 5,000 white 

 pine seedlings which were set 4 ft. apart each way. This planting is to be followed 

 by improvement cuttings of the young growth occnring on the mountain sides. 



Action of the [Pennsylvania] State Forestry Reservation Commission 

 {Forest Leaves, S {1903), No. 9, p. 135).— M the spring meeting of the commission, 

 purchase of land amounting to 80,500 acres were made. Preparations were begun 

 for the establishment of a nursery for the growth of pine seedlings, and arrangements 

 were made for the planting of 500,000 pine seedlings and 50,000 tulip trees. The 

 nursery selected is considered ideal for the purpose, and water was piped so as to 

 reach all points of the nursery when necessary. There is said to be a spontaneous 

 growth of white pine on the tract which is about 20 years old, which will afford an 

 opportunity for improvement cuttings. 



Forestry on the Girard estate in 1901 {Forest Leaves, 8 {1903), No. 9, pj). 138, 

 ^gg) , — An account is given of the condition of the forest lands which are a part of 

 the Girard estate and which are under the supervision of the Philadelphia Board of 

 City Trusts. The reforestation of the mountain lands is said to be a serious ques- 

 tion. The work of 25 years was almost entirely wiped out by forest fires which 

 occurred in the spring of 1901. More than 4,250 acres of land which contained tim- 

 ber of from 1 to 12 years' growth were burned over, the estimated value of the tim- 

 ber destroyed being §3,044.70. 



Study of a chestnut •wood lot, A. S. Haines {Forest Leaves, 8 {1902), No. 10, pp. 

 150, 151). — A report is given of the study of a chestnut wood lot in Chester County, 

 Pa., in which the current increment of trees was obtained by measurements made 

 by the formula adopted by this Department. The trees were divided into 3 groups. 

 The first, which averaged 80 years old, had attained a diameter of 24.5 in., with a cur- 

 rent growth of 1.6 per cent. Because the rapid growth had ceased these trees had 

 become very l:>rittle, and the average value was estimated at §2.60 each. The second 

 class averaged 30 years and was 13.5 in. in diameter, with a current growth of 4.4 

 per cent. These were valued at $1.50 each. The third class of trees, which aver- 

 aged about 60 years, was 22.9 in. in diameter, with a current growth of 4 per cent, 

 and was valued at $4.10 each. At the present low value of land in the vicinity of 

 this wood lot and with the proposed reduction in the taxes on wood lots, the author 

 believes that areas planted to chestnut under these conditions would pay a larger 

 interest on cajntal invested than that obtained from the staple agricultural crops. 



Forestry in Ireland, W. Dick {Farmers' Gaz., 61 {1902), Nos. 17, p. 317; 19,x>p. 

 356, 357; 22, p. 403; 23, pp. 420, 421; 27, p. 485; 29, pp. 536, 537; 36, p. 670).— A 

 series of articles in which the forest condition of Ireland is described and the urgent 

 necessity for reforestation is shown. What are considered the best species for plant- 

 ing are enumerated and historical and other data given to show their relative grow- 

 ing rate, production, and value. The adaptability and importance in order of 

 enumeration are Scotch pine, larch, and ash, followed by the sycamore-leaved 

 maple, 2 kinds of poplar, and oaks. 



The natural restoration of the forests of Switzerland, Engler {Rev. Eaux 

 et Forcts, 41 {1902), No. 3, pp. 81-85) .—The author shows the necessity for thin- 

 nings, clearing cuttings, allowing seed trees to remain, and the proper production of 

 shade for forest growth. For natural reseeding, the forest must never be wholly 

 deprived of its cover. The best results usually attend the cultivation of mixed species, 

 or at least groups of different species of trees. Natural reproduction is said to favor 

 the production of trees of large size. 



