TWO EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



excelsa) as a forest tree adapted t<> various situations. Particular attention is paid tn 

 its culture) illustrations being drawn from the results obtained in Germany, Switzer- 

 land, etc. 



Jn the second part of the paper attention is called to the exploitation of Bpruce 

 forests, and the author concludes that this species of tree is adapted to certain parts 

 of Belgium, if attention be given to some of its peculiarities, such as protection from 

 winds, etc. < rrowth from natural seeding is said to be much slower and less certain 

 than where artificial plantations are made. All things considered, a 70 to 80 year 

 rotation when planted in pure forests is recommended, and the different methods of 

 thinning, cutting, etc., to he adopted are described. 



There are some advantages found in growing spruce with mixtures. For this pur- 

 pose beech is a valuable species, but the treatment should be such as to secure spruce 

 as the dominant species. If the soil is not adapted to beech, groups of fir can be 

 distributed throughout the plantation to advantage, but, if possible, the fir should 

 be started a few years in advance of the planting of the spruce. 



The Sihlwald, A. Poskin {lag. Agr. < Jembloux, 14(1004), No. 12, pp. 600-616).— 

 An account is given of the communal forest of Zurich, Switzerland, and the methods 

 of exploitation, clearing, forest industries, administration, etc., are described. 



Sylviculture and arboriculture in ancient Rome, E. Chabdome (Li;/. Agr. 

 Gembloux, 14 ( 1904), No. 12, )>p. 591-599). — A review is given of an ancient practice 

 in sylviculture and arboriculture, and the methods employed, so far as they went, 

 are said to be quite similar to those in vogue at the present time. 



The value of seed trees, L. C. Miller ( Water and Forest, 4 (1904), No. 8, />. 9, 

 fig. 1). — The necessity of seed trees for natural reproduction is pointed out, and in 

 California the author recommends that at least one or two well-developed, vigorous 

 seed trees to each acre of cut-over land be left standing. These trees should be care- 

 fully selected and frequently trees of little value for lumber may be otherwise 

 satisfactory as seed trees. 



The main uses of wood, W. R. Lazenby (Jour. Columbus Hort. Soc., 19 (1904) j 

 No. 3, }>/>. 84-98). — The principal demands for wood are mentioned, the author 

 dividing them into a number of categories, each of which is considered. The value 

 of different kinds of timber produced in Ohio for the different purposes is discussed. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Quantitative estimation of disease spores, N. A. Cobb (Agr. Gaz. New Smith 

 Wales, 15 ( 1904), No. 7, pp. 670-680, figs. 7). — Following up the suggestion of H. L. 

 Bolley of the North Dakota Station (E. S. R., 14, p. 983), the author reports on the 

 use of the centrifuge as a means of recognizing the occurrence and estimating the 

 abundance of spores of smut in samples of grain. Directions are given for the 

 preparation of samples and the results of a number of examinations are given. 



The author describes methods for counting spores under the microscope, and com- 

 ments upon the accuracy of the test. Where a centrifuge is not available similar 

 results may be obtained by attaching a test tube to a wire which is rapidly whirled 

 about a wire nail or other support. The use of the centrifuge will ensure the detec- 

 tion of smut in seed grain that would otherwise escape discovery. 



North American Ustilagineae, G. P. Clinton (Pror. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 31, 

 No. 9, pp. 829-529). — The comprehensive monograph here presented is largely a 

 result of studies made by the author in the cryptogamic laboratory of Harvard Uni- 

 versity, but had its inception in earlier studies on the economic species carried on in 

 Illinois, the results of which have been published in Bulletins 47 and 57 of the Illi- 

 nois Station (E. S. R., 9, p. 145; 12, p. 355). 



The author recognizes 18 genera and enumerates slightly more than 200 species. 

 The specific descriptions are based on the writer's examination of available material, 



