106 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Recommendations on policy, organization, and procedure for the Bureau 

 of Forestry of the Philippine Islands, (i. Pinchot (Ann. Rpt. Philippine Com., 



1003, ]>l. ;.', />/>. 815-825). — A brief preliminary report is given in which recommenda- 

 tions are made on the organization and procedure of the bureau of forestry of the 

 Philippine Islands, based upon the author's observations in a survey of the forests 

 of the Philippine Islands. 



Report on investigations made in Java, 1902, E. D. Merrill (Philippine 

 Depi. Jut., Forestry Bureau Bui. 1, pp. 84, pis. 10). — An account is given of a trip 

 made by the author to Java in the interest of the Bureau of Forestry, descriptions 

 given of a collection of plants that had been secured by the various field parties of the 

 Forestry Bureau, the methods of investigating forest flora of Java are described, and 

 notes given on the Botanical Institute at Buitenzorg. 



A new hypsometer, H. D. Tieman (Forestry Quart., 2 (1004), No. 3, pp. 145-147, 

 pi. 1). — A description is given of a new form of hypsometer which is believed to be 

 an improvement on the existing forms in a number of ways. This instrument, 

 which is used for ascertaining the height of trees, etc., makes use of a new principle 

 in that it brings 2 points, the vertical distance between which is to be measured, and 

 the scale rod into single parallax by means of a rotary mirror. The readings are 

 taken very rapidly since only one sighting is necessary and the height of the tree is 

 read off directly. 



A method of timber estimating, C. Leavitt (Forestry Quart., 2 (1904), No. 3, 

 pp. 161-163). — A brief description is given of a method of estimating standing tim- 

 ber which is said to be in actual use. This is adapted to the use of the cruiser 

 accompanied by a compass-man. The method described is adapted to tracts of any 

 size and by it the timber on a quarter of a section may be estimated in a single day. 



The preservative treatment of wood, S. P. Sadtler ( Tech. Quart., 17 (1904), No. 

 2, pp. 129-144, figs. 3). — This paper reviews the history of the development of methods 

 of preservative treatment of wood, especial attention being given to the apparatus 

 and methods used in impregnating wood with aluminum sulphate and ferrous sul 

 phate made slightly basic by previous treatment with alkali, according to the Ferrell 

 process. 



Recent progress in timber preservation, H. vox Schrenk ( U. S. Dept. Ayr. 

 Yearbook 1903, pp. 427-440, ph. 3, figs. 3). — According to the author, considerable 

 interest has been recently manifested throughout the United States on the subject of 

 timber preservation. Directions are given for the preparation of various woods for 

 chemical treatment, and some of the more common methods are described. 



Notes are given on the cost and relative efficiency of different treatments, and the 

 author states that it is more profitable to treat inferior cheap timbers, such as the 

 loblolly pine and red oak, than the longleaf pine and white oak, as the latter timbers 

 take treatment very poorly. All timber should be thoroughly seasoned before being 

 treated, as seasoned timbers not only take treatment better and consequently have a 

 longer period of usefulness, but are easier handled. 



For the present he recommends the following preservatives: For fence posts, either 

 charred or treated when absolutely dry with carbolineum, spirittine, or tar oil. They 

 may also be soaked in corrosive sublimate. Telephone and telegraph poles may he 

 treated in a like manner. For structural timbers, creosote treatment, using 10 lbs. 

 of tar oil per cu. ft., is recommended. For railroad ties, treating with creosote, zinc 

 chlorid, and zinc chlorid and tar oil is recommended. For piling, the tar-oil treat- 

 ment is to be preferred. 



SEEDS— WEEDS. 



The vitality and germination of seeds, J. W. T. Duvel ( U. S. Dept. Agr. , 

 Bureau of Plant Industry Bui. 58, pp. 96, figs. 2).- — This paper treats chiefly of the 

 conditions influencing the vitality and germination of seeds when subjected to such 

 methods of treatment as are met with in the ordinary handling of seeds, particular 



