I88i.] EDITORS BOX. ^l 



by Faustmann's Spiff^el Hypsometer, which ran be used without \ 

 =stand, and can easily be carried in the pocket. 



In case any of your readers sliould wish to possess the latter instru- 

 ment, it can easily be obtained from any bookst'ller in Clerniany. I 

 bouglit one last year from Hans Augnstiii, bookseller, Mundi-n, Han- 

 over, for 7s. 9d. 



P. J. Carter, 

 Deputy Conservator of Forests. 

 Tharraimddij, British B'Tiii'/i. 



Sir, — In the Xovember number of ' Forestry ' there is an ac- 

 count of Kay's Dendro meter. I think that Faustmann's Hypsometer 

 is a much better instrument for measuring the lieights of standim< 

 trees, and it is cheaper (if I remember rightly, 1(» *>t 12 marks, or, 

 say, about 14 shillings post free, from Gebriider Zimmern, successor 

 in Stuttgart). It is better (1) because the readings can be taken at 

 the same time as the observations — a great advantage when the 

 air is not perfectly still ; (2) because one person only is required in 

 using it, whereas with Mr. Kay's instrument two are required : one 

 to mark the spot where the horizontal line cuts the tree, and the 

 other to make the observation ; (3) it can be used without any staff ; 

 (-t) it is more compact and transportable, and can easily be carried in 

 one's breast pocket ; (5) it is cheaper. 



An instrument, in no way different from ^Ir. Kay's, has long been 

 known in Germany under the name of ' Koenig's iMessbrettchen,' 

 but has been quite superseded by superior instruments, such as 

 Fleischmann's, which possesses all its good qualities, and one or two 

 others in addition. 



Belgaum, Bornhay. J. L. L. MacGregor. 



PROTECTING TREES FROM GOATS. 

 ' Sir, — Mr. N. Ahlbottn made some remarks regarding this, in 

 ' Forestry ' for December, on which we should like to be better 

 informed. 



If the application of coal tar to trees be injurious, what about the 

 remedies ? If the tar chokes the pores, how much more must 

 paraffin oil. one of the most searching liquids we have ? If coal tar 

 is so Yery binding and injurious, how do we find so many people 

 recommending it ? Mr. McCorquodale, in vol. v., p 266, of your 

 Journal, for one. And do we see trees so readily expand their bark 

 where it has been applied? If Mr. McCorquodale was right in 

 saying that timber, without artificial pressure, will not absorb creosote 

 pif deeper than ' l-16th of an inch in close-grained, nor past 1-Sth in 



