FORESTRY. 673 



to existing forest areas from fires, conservative cutting, with due regard to the future 

 of t lie forest, definite classification of lands into agricultural and forest lands, and 

 various schemes for the management of existing forest reserves. 



Forestry in the Transvaal, D. E. Hutcitins (Natal Agr. Jour, and Min. Eec, 7 

 (1004), No. JO, p. 927). — It is stated that there are 454 varieties of trees suitable for 

 experimental cultivation for timber purposes in the Transvaal, not including those 

 which have only an ornamental value. 



The author recommends an appropriation for forest planting in addition to what- 

 ever income may accrue from the conservation of the present forests. The cost of 

 planting is estimated at about $60 per acre if stocked with nursery plants, or from 

 $30 to $40 per acre if seed sown. The average value of planted forest at 50 years 

 will be in the neighborhood of $1,800 per acre. 



The adaptation of land for afforestation, A. C. Forbes and W. R. Fisher (Lon- 

 don: Laughton A- Co., Ltd., 1904, pp- 104, figs. 10). — This publication consists of two 

 essays for which prizes were awarded by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, 

 the subject being the adaptation of land which has either gone out of cultivation or 

 which has only a very low rentable value for afforestation, showing the method of 

 procedure from taking the land over and for twenty years thereafter, and statistics as 

 to what return may be looked for from this period to maturity. 



The first essay, by Mr. Forbes, treats of the class of land adapted for planting, 

 situation and soil, extent to which planting can be profitably carried, and cost of 

 production and yields of timber per acre. It is said that the class of land best 

 adapted for planting is that which, owing to surface sterility, can not be profitably 

 cultivated and is not of paramount importance to the grazer, but which has a suffi- 

 ciently deep subsoil to produce timber of greater net value than the rent derived from 

 grazing. 



The annual agricultural value of such land does not average much more than 60 

 cts. per acre. Its location should be below 1,000 to 1,200 ft. elevation, and within 

 10 to 20 miles of a good market. The planting should be made in blocks of sufficient 

 size to allow economical fencing, cultivation, supervision, and management. The 

 cost of producing a crop of timber on lands similar to those described will involve an 

 initial expenditure of about $40 per acre. The average annual net returns may be 

 estimated at from 82.50 to 84.00 per acre, allowing for nonproductive lands and calcu- 

 lated on the basis of present prices for timber, labor, and materials. 



In the second essay Mr. Fisher shows the imports of timber into the United 

 Kingdom, gives a description of the general character of present woodlands, distin- 

 guishing between those which are stocked with indigenous trees and those planted 

 with introduced species, and discusses the different systems under which woodlands 

 may be advantageously managed. He then takes up the classes of land which are unre- 

 munerative under agriculture, and describes the modes of treatment to be adopted in 

 stocking lands, giving an estimate of the probable financial results. The net income 

 under proper management is placed at about 3J per cent. 



Afforestation of catchment areas (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 11 (1904), No. 8, 

 pp. 468-472). — An account is given of the attempts being made in the afforestation 

 of the catchment areas about water supplies of numerous cities in Great Britain. 

 These catchment areas have been secured by the local authorities in various ways, 

 and tables are given showing the location, extent of the land, character of the soil, 

 and the proportion which is now forested. Where possible attempts are being made 

 to increase the growth of forest trees over these areas. 



Reforestation in Italy, Neville-Rolfe (Agr. Gaz. New South Wales, 15 (1904), 

 No. 9, pp. 838, 839). — In a British consular report the author states that in 1877 about 

 4,000,000 acres of forest was withdrawn from the operation of the forest laws in Italy, 

 as well as about 1,000,000 acres in Sicily and Sardinia. As a consequence of this 



