982 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The fats which are extracted by ether seem to play a very unimportant part in 

 the stems and roots of the plants studied. In the leaves the fal content inn-eases 

 from early in the spring to autumn, the Eat appearing as a sort of by-product to 



photosynthesis. 



The water content of stems and roots attains its maximum in the spring, passing 

 to a minimum in the autumn. The actual amount of water in bulbs and tubers 

 varies with the stage of growth and to some extent with the water content of the 

 soil. The autumn is the period of most latent life, when the reserve materials 

 are at their maximum and the water content at its minimum, while in the spring of 

 the year the proportions are reversed and plant life is at its most active stage. 



New method of healing and nourishing trees, S. Mokkziiktski ( Vyestnik Tavr. 

 Zemstvo, 1903, Nos. II, 1 .'; <d>x. in Zhur. Opuitn. Agron. [Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.~\, 

 5 (1904), No. 4, l>/>- 550, 551). — The author briefly communicates the results of his 

 experiments with 500 trees in introducing into the trunks nutritive salts in the 

 dry state and in solution. These salts were preparations after the formulae of 

 Knopp, Muller-Thurgau, Wagner, and Mokrzhetski. The experiments were made 

 with oaks, poplars, sycamores which suffered from the frost, diseased white acacias, 

 and pear and apple trees. In all cases the results were more or less favorable. 

 Chlorosis was successfully treated with iron sulphate, as well as the anthracnose on 

 the grapevine and some fungus diseases of the apple and the oak. Gummosis of 

 some species was treated by introducing solutions of acetic, oxalic, and tartaric acids. 

 By introducing solutions of arsenic, copper sulphate, manganese, and barium, the 

 bark borer, apple moth, and one species of aphis were successfully combated. In 

 some cases, however, the treatment was ineffective. — p. fireman. 



Methods for determining the volume of forests, C. Fernando (Xatal Ayr. Jour, 

 and Min. Record, 7 (1904), No. 11, pp. 1025-1036).— Suggestions are given of methods 

 for determining the volume of timber in artificially grown plantations where the 

 woods are composed of trees of approximately the same age, with a complete leaf 

 canopy. The methods suggested are based on three systems — the system of estima- 

 tion, measurements extending over the whole forest, and the measurements of small 

 plats. 



A new timber seasoning process (Forestry mid Trrig., 10(1904), No. 12, pp. 

 570,571). — In the experiments carried on by the Bureau of Forestry in seasoning 

 telephone and telegraph poles, investigations will be conducted on the effect of sub- 

 merging poles in water for various lengths of time. It is known that the sap of the 

 green tree contains a number of soluble substances, ami it is believed that the 

 removal of these will to some degree eliminate the action of fungi. It is possible also 

 that certain chemical and physical changes in the wood cells are produced by 

 soaking. To test this, the Bureau of Forestry proposes the soaking of poles in the 

 hope that the time required for seasoning may be reduced. 



In addition to the removal of fungus injury the reduction in weight is an important 

 consideration where the poles are to be shipped to any great distances, and by reduc- 

 ing the tendency to decay it will be possible to lower the present butt diameter 

 requirement, which is now based on a certainty that rot will soon weaken the power 

 of the pole to withstand strain at the surface of the ground. 



Forest fires (Forestry and Trrig., 10 (1904), No. 10, pp. 469-471). — Notes are 

 given on the principal forest fires for the month of September, the most serious 

 losses being reported from Oregon, Washington, California, British Columbia, and 

 Newfoundland. Minor fires are reported from Montana, Idaho, and Minnesota. 



