64 J^^^<^ Journal of Forestry. 



in the sea cliff ; it lies on the top of the alum rock, is about six inches thick, 

 of a light grey colour, and a great many fossils are found in it. It is burned 

 as lime is iDurned, and then ground in a mill. When fresh and new ground 

 it sets very quick, and will not bear any pand unless it be washed clear of 

 all loamy substances. It is easy to apply it in batting. The cement is put 

 into the hole before the bat— or standard, as the case may be,— the bat 

 is inserted as quickly as possible, the cement neatly dressed round the bat, 

 and the work is finished. There are doors of between two or three hundred- 

 weight on this estate, hung on crooks fixed with the cement, which are now as 

 firm as when first hung ten years since. I have seen bats taken out of stones, 

 and the surface of the iron was as sound as when it came out of the hands 

 of the smith. 



Portland cement is too long in setting to answer well for batting. 



The price of Roman cement is 3s. per bushel. Fifteen bushels will 

 weigh about one ton. Ai^drew Slater. 



Rose Cottage, Loftvs-iii-CIevekind, l?fh April, 1877. 



AMERICAN PLANTING. 



SiR^ — The science of forestry as pursued in Europe is almost unknown 

 in the United States, though a rapidly growing interest is being manifested. 

 The railroad companies of the far West, to whom extensive grants of public 

 lands have been made, are now largely interested in planting for wind-breaks 

 or shelter, and for timber for fuel and railroad constructive purposes. 

 Very few private individuals east of California are planting except ex- 

 perimentally. My firm probably have planted as great a breadth as any ; 

 having been planting seed of forest trees and seedlings in Virginia for the 

 last six years. This spring we have planted 300 acres in black walnuts, 

 and in a few years will complete some thousands of acres in hardwood nut- 

 bearing trees. I may perhaps be able to interest your readers in the 

 varieties of trees most likely to succeed in this country, and the most 

 practical method of growing them. The variations of species, soil, and cli- 

 mate in many instances necessitate a course of treatment very different 

 from that pursued in England. 



PliUadeJpliia, U.S.A., BURNET LaNDEETH. 



12th April, 1877. 



Obttvary. — We reo'refc to have to announce the death of Mr. Thomas 

 Dickson, of Chester.^which occurred on the 23rd of March. The deceased 

 gentleman was the youngest son of the late Mr. Francis Dickson, the founder 

 of the well-known nursery firm of Francis and Arthur Dickson and Sours, of 

 which Mr. Arthur Dickson is now the head. 



