666 The journal of Forestry, 



Willow Bark for Tanning. — The Dautsclie Gerbtr Zeitung observes that the 

 Berlin exhibits, German and foreign, of leather tanned with willow bark fur- 

 nished conclusive proof of the value of the willow for tanning purposes. The 

 Eussian firm of Aliantschikoff, of Kamisov, was conspicuous in this respect, 

 the excellence of their light feathers being equalled by the perfect tanning of 

 the heaviest sole leather by willow-hark. 



A Beautiful New Tree (Phellodendron amurense). — This, a native of 

 Siberia and Mandschouria, is just now a beautiful object in my garden. My 

 specimen of it is about 12 ft. in height, and has a tall pyramidal crown of from 

 3 it. to 6 ft. The form of its foliage, which is deeply lobed, gives it a singular 

 appearance, and the coloration of the leaves, which are bright red, is very fine. 

 It is also all the more valuable on account of its keeping its foliage much 

 longer than other deciduous trees, which hereabouts have shed their leaves a 

 fortnight ago. It has a spongy bark, and is called the Siberian Cork Tree. — 

 Max LeichtUn, Baden Baden. 



PiNUS Insignis, at Poweescourt, Co. Wicklow. — A -plant of Pinus insignis 

 planted here in 1860, being then about three to four feet high, was blown down 

 last month, after having made the following remarkable growths in seventeen 

 years from the time it was planted. It had attained the height of 41 ft., and 

 measured 3 ft. 2 in. in circumference of stem at 1 foot from the ground. 

 Some of the annual growths were 3 ft. 5 in. and 3 ft. 6 in. in length, and one 

 was 3 ft. 7 in. Out of the great quantity of conifers planted here this stands out 

 pre-eminent, with its bright rich green foliage, which renders it easily dis- 

 tinguishable at a distance. Though it has proved to be not quite hardy in 

 some parts of England, it is more hardy than many people are aware of 

 I have seen it withstand the frost when the thermometer had been within 

 a few degrees of zero. This tree is remarkable for the great weight of 

 foliage which it cai'ries, heuce the necessity of planting it in a good deep 

 soil to bring out its massive foliage in perfection. If planted in dry gravelly 

 soil the tree assumes a rusty ajDpearance, and it will soon be perceived that it 

 requires more nourishment. In most cases Pinus insignis withstands the 

 wind admirably and makes tree growths, and is well adapted for planting in 

 proximity with the Ccdrus deodara.— G. Penfoi'd, in " Gardener's Chronicle." 



Hard to Beat. — A remarkable frog story is told by the Toronto Globe. A 

 pine log was being sawed into lumber at a saw-mill in Acton. The outside 

 slab and one board had cut off, and while the workmen were turning over 

 the log they were surprised to see a large toad poke his head out of a hole in 

 which he was embedded, and where he had barely escaped being cut up 

 by the saw. As the log was the fourth or fifth from the butt of the tree, 

 his position must have been at least fifty or sixty feet from the ground. 

 The animal was quite flat, and nearly as large as a man's hand. He was 

 perfectly blind, but when taken from his bed he made use of his limbs to 

 crawl away. The tree was perfectly sound with the exception of a decayed 

 spot of about a foot in length below the hollow place in which he was em- 

 bedded. The Globe man may have the belt, the Bay City Tribune liar will 

 have nothing more to say after reading this. — Lumberman, U.S.A. 



The Huon Pine (Dacrydium Franeltni) at Longleat. — This most graceful 

 pine, a native of Tasmania, is very beautiful, growing in the open air at Long- 

 leat, where it is quite hardy and bears fruit. It has attained a height of 31 ft. 

 The graceful twine-like branehlets are of a beautiful grass green. 



