Chips and Slips. 595 



he quotes experiments of Baftbu to account for the probable presence of an 

 iron oxide. 



Wood v. Cast ikon. — HerrHirnhas been conducting a series of experiments 

 in Germany on the comparative strength of wood and cast iron in their 

 different apphcations, and finds that in a great number of cases the former 

 has the advantage. Professor Hirn finds the strength of wood to be in 

 direct ratio to its density, and this strength is increased by immersing the 

 pieces of wood in linseed oil, heated from 185 degrees to 212 degrees Fahr., 

 and letting the wood thus immersed remain for two or three days, or until 

 partially saturated. 



Japanese Birches. — Mr. Maule, of the Bristol Nurseries, has been good 

 enough to send us for determination specimens of two Japanese Birches, which 

 from their large (male) catkins and handsome appearance are worthy attention. 

 One, an upright grower, with the young shoots brownish and dotted with 

 resinous dots, with glabrous ovate leaves gradually tapering to a long point or 

 acumen, with rather closely set prominent nerves, and irregularly serrated 

 leaves, and with male catkins 2^ inches long, is, we believe, the B. utilis of 

 Don, or rather that form of it which Regel calls B. Bhijapaltra, Wall., var. 

 subcorclata. We prefer to use the name utilis because it is the earlier name, 

 and one not so uncouth to English ears. For garden purposes the vainetal 

 name, B. suhcordata, would perhaps be the most convenient. The second is a 

 weeping form, with the young shoots brownish, sprinkled with resinous dots. 

 The young leaves are obliquely ovate-cordate, rather shortly acuminate, serrate, 

 thinly beset with pale appressed hairs, especially along the nerves, and covered 

 on the lower surface with small circular glandular scales. The male catkins 

 are nearly three inches long. This second form we refer to B. ulmifoUa., var. 

 cnstaia, which might for garden purposes be called simply B. costata. — 

 Gardeners ' Chronicle. 



Califoknian Conifeks.— We were at the height of about 5,000 feet above the 

 sea, in the finest zone of the grandest conifers in the world. There were the 

 Yi\jch.YirvG, or Pinus ponderosa, the Sugar Pine (P. Lambertiana), the ^h\te 

 Cedar [Libocedrus decurrens), and the Abies Bouglasii, the famous Douglas Fir, 

 The Sugar Pine is remarkable for the size of its cones, which I have picked up 

 more than sixteen inches in length, and which may be well described as hang- 

 ing like ornamental tassels from the ends of the branches. The timber of this 

 tree is said upon good authority to be the best in California, and its size 

 gigantic, being not unfrequently 300 feet high, and from seven to ten feet in 

 diam.etei — ''Over the Sea and Far A wait/," by T. W. Hinchliff, M.A., F.B.G.S. 



Dkougrt and Disafeokestjient. — Colonel Beddome, Conservator of Forests, 

 remarks that the extreme drought of the last two years has told much upon 

 the appearance of the ceded districts: — "I observed not a few trees (chiefly 

 Strychnos nux vomica, Menicci/lon tindorimn, and Dodonce viscosa) dead and 

 dying from the drought ; this has rarely, if ever, come under my observation 

 before, certainly never to such an extent ; it was very noticeable how green, 

 fresh, and healthy all the Red Sanders appeared,— it is evidently a drought 

 lovinc tree." It is worthy of remark that the drought has proved fatal to the 

 Casuarina trees. Some twelve acres were planted at Camalapore with about 

 12,000 plants, intended for fuel for the railway ; these had i^eached a height of 

 forty to forty -five feet, and a girth of from nine to twenty inches, and were 

 growino very well till last September, when they began to succumb to the 

 lengthened drought, and about 70 per cent, died ofi". The rest will probably 

 also go if the drought continues.— iliafZras Mail. 



