458 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The quality of tlie wood of vines, L. Ravaz and A. Bonnet {Prog. Agr. d Vil. 

 (Ed. L'EKt), ;.V [lUOl), So. ij, pp. o60-369, figa. IS). — In pruning vines it is desirable 

 to reserve always the more mature wood. The authors have made some investiga- 

 tions as to the means of determining with certainty, y)y a simple process, how this 

 can be done by the vineyardist. A review is given of the investigations of earlier 

 workers, showing that the specific-gravity method of determining the maturity of 

 vine wood is unreliable, besides being difficult of application with the crude scales 

 found on most vineyard i)lantations. Microscopic examinations of longitudinal and 

 transverse sections of mature and immature wood showed that the starch content of 

 the mature wood is much greater than in the immature wood, with proportionate 

 gradations between; hence by applying the tincture of iodin test to the freshly cut 

 wood the intensity and extent of the blue color reaction with the starch of the wood 

 will indicate the degree of maturity. This is a simple test, requiring no special 

 knowledge tn- ajiparatus for its application, and is considered practical. 



An old rubber plantation, A. H. Berkhout (Indian Forextcr, 21 (1901), A'o. 4, 

 pp. 184, IS.')). — A l)rief account is given of a rubber plantation in Java, in which the 

 trees, Ficu.'t liaslioi. Mere planted in 1864. The estimated cost of planting and culti- 

 vation was about $7 per acre, and the plantation embraces 724 acres, and contained, 

 when planted, 5,200 trees. The first tapping of the trees was made in 1886 and the 

 yield (if rubber from that time to 1898 is shown in tabular form. An average of the 

 figures shows the annual net profit of $39.30 per acre, with a maximum profit of $58 

 for the last year. 



Caoutchouc from the Kong-o, L. Gentil (Gard. Chron., 3. .ser., 29 (1901), No. 

 748, pji. 262-264). — This artii'le discusses protection and forest conservancy of caout- 

 chouc, preparation of the juice, propagation, multiplication, and planting. 



Sander's orchid guide (St. Albans, England: F. Sanders & Co., 1901, pp. 380). — ■ 

 This l>ook gives in tabular form the native country, description, season of flowering, 

 and cultural classification of nearly all the species and hybrids in cultivation at the 

 present time. 



Report of the committee on school gardens and children's herbariums, 

 1900, H. L. Clafi' (Tran.^. Ma.'<.'<achnselis Hurt. Soc, 1900, II, pp. 248-259, figt^. 6).— 

 This report i-overs the methods and work of the children of several schools in her- 

 barium and garden making, with list of prizes, etc. 



The educational status of horticulture, F. W. Card (Amer. Gard., 22 (1901), 

 No. 326, ]>p. 213, 214). — A paper read l)efore the Section of Botany and Horticulture 

 at the New Haven meeting of the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and 

 Experiment Stations. 



FORESTRY. 



A forest working plan for Township 40, Totten and Crossfi^eld Purchase, 

 Hamilton County, New York State Forest Preserve, R. S. HosMEKand E. S. 

 Bruce ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Forestry Bui. 30, pp. 64, pis. 11, maps 4)- — This 

 working plan was prepared at the request of the Forest, Fish, and Game Commission 

 of the State of New York, under the provisions of Circular No. 21 of the Division of 

 Forestry of this Department, and is the first instance of cooperation in practical 

 forest management betw'een this Department and a State government. The main 

 purpose of this working plan is to outline a method of management under which the 

 merchantable timber may be cut in such a manner that successive crops may be 

 obtained and the condition of the forest constantly improved. A general description 

 of the township and its chief topographical features are given. The forest consists 

 of a niixture of coniferous and deciduous trees, the principal species, in order of 

 occurrence, being as follows: Spruce, yellow birch, balsam, hemlock, beech, hard 

 maple, and white pine. With these are associated arbor vita', commonly known as 



