454 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



various efforts which liave been made to render wood fireproof by chemical treat- 

 ment, and a description is given of the Ferrell process of treating wood. This con- 

 sists of impregnating the wood with a sohition of sulphate of ahimina under great 

 pressm-e. It is said that if a piece of wood be saturated with a solution of sul- 

 phate of alumina to a depth of not more than three-eighths of an inch from the 

 surface, and the point of the inner blue cone of a strong Bunsen flame be brought 

 against it and kept in such a position, a boring effect takes place with an abun- 

 dant separation of alumina. It required, on an average, over three hours for the 

 flame to complete the boring of a piece of white pine 1 in. thick so treated. 



Wastefulness "in turpentine industry, C. Herty {Tradesman, 48 {1902), No. 3, 

 p 75) _ — X brief account is given of an investigation conducted under the auspices 

 of the Bureau of Forestrj' of this Department on turpentine production. Accord- 

 ing to the estimate of the author, there is a loss of 3 bbls. of turpentine for 

 every 4 bbls. produced, on account of the wasteful methods pursued. The author 

 is convinced that the present method of boxes cut in the pine tree is not only dam- 

 aging to the tree, but does not secure the best results. Instead of cutting boxes 

 in the tree, the author recommends a system of two flat faces cut on the tree, each 

 containing a slanting incision about an inch deep, from which galvanized-iron gutters 

 carry the turpentine. The importance of the improved method of handling the 

 trees is shown and it is stated that had this method been employed the annual pro- 

 duction of naval stores would have been increased nearly 100 per cent. 



A first book of forestry, F. Roth {BoHton: Ginn & Co., 1902, pp. 291, figs. 98).— 

 The increasing interest in forestry in this country has shown the necessity for con- 

 cise statements of the principles underlying forestry and forest management. In the 

 book here noted the writer has prepared for use in high schools, normal schools, 

 and other secondary schools, clear and concise statements describing the principles 

 of forestry preservation and use, forest planting, reforestation, relation of forests to 

 water supply, as well as giving specific directions for the management of the small 

 woods lot. The various forest industries are described, and accounts given of the 

 enemies of forests, such as fires, insects, diseases, etc., and methods are suggested 

 of preventing injury from these sources. Keys are given by which the common 

 species of trees can be readily distinguished and an alphaljetical list of the more 

 important woods and trees of the United States is appended. In this list the prin- 

 cipal characteristics of the trees, their distribution and uses are shown. The illus- 

 trations are nearly all taken from American material, so that the problems of our 

 own country are prominently presented. Although primarily designed for use in 

 schools, this book is well adapted to the use of the individual reader seeking infor- 

 mation along the lines treated. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Notes on some West American fungi, D. Griffiths {Bui. Torrey Bot. Clah, 29 

 {1902), Xo. 5, pp. 290-301, figs. 70).— Attention is called to more detailed descriptions 

 of certain species of fungi which have been hitherto described, and the following 

 new species are described: Tilletia externa on Carex fiUfoUa, T. earlei on Agropyron ocri- 

 denkde, U-itilago elegans on CJdoris elegans, Sorosporiwn higelovix on Bigelovia sp., »S'. vnl- 

 liamsii on Stipa richardsonii, Gymnoeonia riddeUix on RiddelUa cooperi, Pucciina hou- 

 vardiie on Bouvardia triphylla, P. hurnettn on Stipa comata, P. micrantha on Oryzopsis 

 micrantha, JEcidhnn grindelLr. on Grindeha squarrosa, jE. dakotensis on AquUegia 

 canadensis, and Clav'iceps cariema on Carex nebraskensis. 



Concerning some fungi occurring on tropical economic plants, A. Zimmer- 

 MANN ( Centbl. Baki. u. Par., 2. Aht., 8 {1902), Nos. 5, pp. 148-152; 6, pp. 181-184; 7, pjo. 

 216-221, figs. ^).— Economic and descriptive notes are given of a number of fmigi 



