FORESTRY. 163 



Reforesting the valley of the Rhone, H. Badoux I Chron. Agr. Canton Vaud, 17 

 (1904), No. 7, pp. 247-249). — An account is given of the reforesting of the Rhone 

 Valley, the object being to hreak the force of the winds which sweep the valley, 

 often causing serious injury to crops. The undertaking was the result of an agitation 

 begun in 1890. 



Plantings have been made at right angles to the axis of the valley at different dis- 

 tances throughout the canton. In all 68.5 hectares have been planted in 5 planta- 

 tions varying in width from 50 to 100 m. In making these plantings 491,500 plants 

 were used, 48 percent of which were spruce, 18 per cent fir, 1.8 jier cent pine, 24 

 per cent alder, 4.5 per cent oak, and the remainder ash, Canada poplar, and willow s. 



The total cost of the undertaking thus far has been $17,641, one-fourth of which 

 was paid by the canton, about one-fourth by the general government, and the 

 remainder charged to the various properties benefited. 



The big trees and forest fires, G. F. Schwarz (Forestry and Irrig., 10 (1904), 

 No. 5, pp. 213, 214). — Attention is called to the fact that the big trees of California, 

 together with the nearly related redwood, are free from insect and fungus attacks to 

 a very considerable degree. In addition the trees are protected to a great extent 

 from forest tires by their thick sjjongy bark, which is free from pitch and not very 

 combustible. 



Although a large number of big trees have been severely burned about the base, 

 their vitality has rarely been seriously affected. While they may not be physiolo- 

 gically injured, they are indirectly harmed by the change in mechanical conditions 

 caused by large excavations at their bases. These excavations extend over a large 

 part of the circumference, wounding the root system and rendering them liable to 

 be overturned in severe storms. 



The hardy catalpa as a farm crop, W. J. Green (Ohio Sta. Bui. 149, pp. 69-80, 

 figs. 8). — Compiled notes are given on the characteristics and value of hardy catalpa, 

 and the author gives directions for the collection of the seeds, sowing them, prepara- 

 tion of permanent plantations, planting, and subsequent care. This is preliminary 

 to an extended investigation of this tree for forest planting. The station has begun 

 growing trees for posts, poles, and railroad ties, and the intention is to extend the 

 work so as to include a greater variety of forestry questions. 



Forest thinning and its results, W. F. Hubbard (Forestry uml Irrig., 10(1904), 

 No. 6, pp. 268-271). — This is the first of a series of papers by the author and deals 

 with the theory and practice of thinning forests. The present paper gives the value 

 and technique of thinning, being based on the practices followed in Europe. 



The relation of forests to stream flow, J. W. Toumey ( U. S. Dept. Agr. Year- 

 book 1903, pp. 279-288).— 4n this article the author considers a forest as an average 

 growth of trees sufficiently dense to form a fairly unbroken canopy of tops and not a 

 scattered growth of low, round-headed trees with bushes and herbage constituting a 

 dominant type of vegetation. 



The influence of such a forest on rainfall, evaporation, transpiration, the run-off 

 of water, etc., is discussed, and in conclusion the author states that although "the 

 forest may have, on the whole, but little appreciable effect in increasing the rainfall 

 and the annual run-off, its economic importance in regulating the flow of streams is 

 beyond computation. 



" The great indirect value of the forest is the effect which it has in preventing 

 wind and water erosion, thus allowing the soil on hills and mountains to remain 

 where it is formed, and in other ways providing an adequate absorbing medium at 

 the sources of the water courses of the country. It is the amount of water that 

 passes into the soil, not the amount of rainfall, that makes a region garden or 

 desert." 



The reserve policy in operation, E. A. Braniff ( Forestry Quart., .' (1904 I, No. ■■'. 

 pp. 137-144). —An attempt is made to show how the forest policy of the < rovernment 



