980 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



with a brief account of the growth of the trees at the station. Unfavorable weather 

 prevailed during the season, the tan bark and cork oak trees suffering severely. A 

 large number of acorns of each species had been planted, and while about 50 per cent 

 of the tan oaks germinated, 95 ]>er cent of these failed to withstand the dry summer. 

 The cork oaks did a little better. The eucalyptus trees made very poor growth, the 

 failure being attributed in a large measure to a lack of thorough cultivation. 



Chaparral in northern California, E. A. Sterling ( Forestry Quart., 2 (1904), 

 No. 4, i>]>. 209-214)- — According to the author, the amount of chaparral land in Cali- 

 fornia north of Sacramento is estimated at more than 200,000 acres. This region, 

 aside from its value in conserving water, is practically worthless for grazing, for the 

 production of timber, etc. 



The chaparral is divided into two classes, that which has evidently been long in 

 possession, and the more recent growth which has followed lumbering and tires. 

 The first type of chaparral is found mainly on the higher elevations, while the second 

 invariably follows the path of lumberiDg operations. Fire is also responsible for 

 chaparral growth. 



The examination of the chaparral shows the presence of a large variety of genera 

 and species of plants. The bulk, however, of the thickets is composed of manzanita 

 and Ceanothus. The more important species occurring in the chaparral are briefly 

 described, after which the author discusses the encroachment of this growth. The 

 chaparral is said to be a positive menace, as it encroaches upon regions that are 

 adapted to more valuable uses than a mere watershed cover. 



To reclaim chaparral by planting is not feasible, but the author suggests better 

 protection of the mountain forests and the application of more business-like methods 

 to lumbering, in order that the chaparral will not encroach upon the regions already 

 forested with valuable species. 



Forest conditions in the Absaroka division of the Yellowstone Forest 

 Reserve, J. B. Leiberg ( U. S. Geo!. Survey Professional Paper X". .."■>, pp. 14$, maps 

 2, dgm. 1). — A report is given of investigations made by the author of the timber 

 conditions of the Absaroka division of Yellowstone Forest Reserve, which was 

 originally the Absaroka Forest Reserve. This division and the Teton and Yellow- 

 stone reserves were merged into the Yellowstone Forest Reserve in 1903. The por- 

 tion reported upon embraces 1,334,400 acres, of which 37,200 acres are reported as 

 wooded, 442,640 acres as forested, and the remainder nontimbered, which consists 

 of badly burned areas, agricultural and grazing lands, barrens, lakes, etc. 



The topographical features of the region are described at length, and the forest 

 is said to be almost wholly coniferous, the principal species being lodgepole, limber, 

 and white-bark pine, red and subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce. The deciduous 

 species are but very slightly represented, cotton woods and various species of willows 

 being most abundant. 



The timber of the reserve valuable for commercial purposes is divided by the 

 author into timber of sufficient dimension to furnish saw logs and timber fit only for 

 fuel, poles, railroad ties, etc. Of the mill timber the Absaroka division is said to 

 embrace about 972,000,000 ft. B. M., while the volume of pole and fuel timber 

 amounts to 952,500,000 cu. ft. 



The different portions of the reserve are described by townships, after which 

 similar notes are given regarding the Livingstone and Big Timber quadrangles, both 

 of which are situated in Montana. 



The Cowthorpe oak, J. Clayton (Trans, and Proc. Bot. Sor. Edinburgh, 22 (1904), 

 pt. 8, pp. 396-414, pis. 7). — A descriptive and historical account is given of this oak 

 tree, which is situated in the village of Cowthorpe near Wetherby, and which is 

 known throughout the botanical world as one of the most famous of oak trees. 



Records of measurements are given extending from 1700 to 1893. These records 

 indicate that the tree has suffered various vicissitudes of storms and other injuries, 



