SEEDS WEEDS. 475 



and describes their culture, uses, diseases and insect injuries and their remedies, 

 exploitation, products, etc. 



After a general discussion of the botanical characters of the genus, descriptions are 

 given of about 20 species and varieties which are either indigenous or introduced in 

 France. Chapters are given on the reproduction, planting, culture, etc., and special 

 attention paid to numerous fungus and insect enemies of the tree. The volume con- 

 cludes with accounts of the various products and their utilization, and with direc- 

 tions for the evaluation of standing timber. 



The study of the red gum {Forestry and Irrig., 10 (1904), No. 7, pp. 333-335). — 

 An outline is given of recent investigations of the Bureau of Forestry of this Depart- 

 ment on the value and utilization of the red gum. The rapid growth, occupation of 

 swamp lands, and immunity from fires attracted attention to this tree as a means of 

 continuing the lumber supply for certain uses. In spite of its abundance, this tree 

 has been slow to be recognized of commercial importance, largely on account of the 

 extent to which it warps and stains in seasoning. The Bureau of Forestry has been 

 carrying on investigations at its timber-testing laboratory to determine more fully 

 the value of this timber in comparison with higher-priced material. 



The results obtained so far show that the red gum may serve for carriage and 

 wagon wood stock in place of hickory, and it is believed that experiments will deter- 

 mine methods of seasoning which will overcome the warping and twisting that 

 result from the ordinary drying of the timber. Field studies are being carried on in 

 a number of localities, and a careful study of second growth and stand per acre will 

 be made in the hopes of securing data that can be made the basis of recommenda- 

 tions for the proper management of hard-wood bottom lands. 



The water elm, J. Jensen {Forestry and Irrig., 10 (1904), No. 8, p. 384). — A brief 

 account is given of the occurrence in Michigan of the water elm (Zelkova acuminata), 

 a species indigenous to the mountain region of Japan. This tree was introduced in 

 1879, a number of specimens being planted at the South Haven Substation. The 

 largest tree measures 3 ft. 10 in. in circumference 3 ft. from the ground and is more 

 than 20 ft. in height. This rate of growth for a 24-year-old tree is believed to show 

 the possibilities of this species of forest tree where climatic and soil conditions are 

 favorable to its growth. The larger specimens have already ripened seeds as is 

 evidenced by numerous seedlings observed in hedges near by. 



Camp life at the Yale Summer School of Forestry, Q. R. Craft (Forestry mid 

 Irrig., 10 (1904), No. 9, pp. 437-431, figs. 3). — A description is given of the location of 

 the Yale Summer School of Forestry at Milford, Pa. ; its advantages pointed out, and 

 brief outlines of the courses and methods of instruction given. 



SEEDS— WEEDS. 



The biology of the seed of species of Inga, A. Borzi (Rend. Boy. Accad. Lincei, 

 1903, pp. 10; abs. in Bot. Centbl, 95 (1904), No. 22, pp. 578, 579).— An account is given 

 of some observations on the seed of a number of species of Inga, which the author 

 states are naked embryos without the usual seed coats. 



The covering of the seed consists of a white sugary pulp which easily separates 

 from the black seed. The seed enveloped in this pulp is carried in the long pods 

 and is scattered more or less by birds seeking the pulp. The naked embryos are 

 able to retain their germinative power for a considerable time and by special 

 physiological and biological adaptations are protected against excessive radiation,, 

 transpiration, etc. The external portions of the embryos are provided with 

 thickened cuticularized tissues containing tannin and anthocyanin. The aeration 

 of the seed is secured by a mechanism which corresponds to the micropyle of 

 ordinary seeds. A number of other important analogies between this peculiar seed 

 and normal seeds are pointed out. 



