6oo The Journal of Foi'cstry. 



We would call the attention of our readers to tlie liiglily interesting 

 resume of the different species of Populus which we have the privilege 

 to lay before them this month, from the pen of our able and esteemed 

 correspondent, Dr. John A. Warder, of North Bend, Ohio, U.S.A., who 

 was one of the members of the Scientific Commission sent from the 

 United States to the Great International Exhibition of 1873 at 

 Vienna, and is the author of a valuable Eeport on the Forest Products 

 exhibited there. Dr. Warder's conclusions in reference to some of 

 the species of Poplars possess much interest to botanists and scientific 

 foresters who are desirous to know every tree by its proper and gene- 

 rally accepted name in scientific nomenclature, the advantages of 

 which are undeniable, even for what is commonly called practical 

 or useful purposes. European botanists may have some difficulty in 

 agreeing with their American brethren as to what constitutes a species 

 and what a variety amongst Poplars ; but a correct knowledge of the 

 various so-called species, or varieties, of such a valuable class of quick- 

 growing timber trees is of the utmost importance to the forester, so 

 that he may be able to select with certainty the species, or variety of a 

 a species, best adapted for the purpose he has in view. Towards this 

 laudable object Dr. Warder's contribution affords much matter for 

 interesting and profitable study ; and we may premise that further 

 contributions on this and other highly important arbori cultural subjects 

 from our far-off friends will be much appreciated by ourselves, and 

 acceptable to our readers. 



Along with Mr. J. T. Allan, of Omaha, President of the Nebraska 

 State Horticultural Society, Dr. Warder is an energetic promoter of 

 the Memorial now before Congress to send a Commission to visit and 

 inspect the Forests and Forest Schools of Europe, to which we have 

 referred in former numbers. In regard to this subject our corre- 

 spondent writes : — " I am happy to inform you that the matter has 

 been favourably introduced into both Houses, and a Bill of a very 

 liberal character reported in the House of Eepresentatives, and referred 

 in both Houses to Agricultural Committees, from which we hope to 

 have favourable reports as soon as they can be got ready," We 

 trust these efforts will meet with the encouragement and success they 

 so well deserve, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming the 

 Commission to our shores before the close of the New Year upon 

 which we have just entered. 



The sweet or Spanish chestnut {Castanea vesca) is generally believed 

 to have been introduced into Europe by the Greeks from Asia Minor, 

 about 500 years before the Christian era. It probably found its way 

 to Britain through the Eomans, who used its fruit extensively as an 



