862 The journal of Forestry. 



able to get at the yew trees in my field, as they are quite unprotected, 

 but I have never lost any cattle. I have heard that dried and withered 

 yew is poisonous, but that when green it is innocuous. Is this the case ? 

 and if so, how is it chemically accounted for ? In some parts of England 

 the yew grows wild in great profusion in the hedges, coppices, and commons, 

 but we don't hear of its killing the cattle. — E. S. B. 



Measuring Trees.— Will any of your readers kindly inform me which 

 is the best way to measure the height of a tree and the spread of its 

 branches ?— W. F. H. 



PiNUS AusTRiACA. — Can any of your readers inform me if there are 

 any trees of Pinus Austriaca (black Austrian pine) hi Britain which have 

 borne cones containing well-ripened seed, and where ? — P. A, 



Paper Pulp from Wood. — Can you or any of your correspondents 

 inform me whether the patent for producing paper pulp by grinding coni- 

 ferous wood is still worked ? and, if so, where I could learn all particulars ? 

 — H. J. M. 



Douglas Fir fok the Paris Exhibition. — There will be placed on exhibition 

 at the Paris Exposition this year two pieces of Douglas Fir {Abies Douglasii). 

 The pieces are a transverse and a longitudinal section, taken from a tree over 

 400 feet high and 8 feet in diameter, found growing on the slopes of the 

 Rocky Mountains in British Columbia. 



Tarring Posts. — I have lately read that pine tar was of more value than 

 gas tar to preserve fence-posts. Do you know whether this is the case ? If 

 gas tar is used with quicklime, would not the small amount of water in the 

 tar be needed to slack the lime, so that boiling out the water would be un- 

 necessary ? The lime could not very well be applied dry. — T. A. E. [We 

 think gas tar as good as pine tar for preserving posts, and, unless containing 

 a large quantity of acid, that the lime would not be necessary. Applied hot 

 to warm surfaces of wood, without other preparation, we have found it to 

 impart great durability when the wood is below ground, or in contact with 

 moisture.] — Albany Cultivafor. 



Extent of Woods in England and Wales. — A return has been issued of the 

 woods and plantations (other than saleable underwoods), rights of sporting, 

 and mines (other than coal mines), which, by the Rating Act, 1874 (37 and 38 

 Vict., c. 5 i), were rendered liable to poor rates and other local rates leviable 

 upon property rateable to the relief of the poor. The Act did not take effect 

 until April 6, 1875, and the returns have been compiled from the valuation 

 lists in Ibrce at the commencement of the year 1877. The total area in statute 

 acres of England and Wales is 37,280,208. The estimated extent of the woods 

 is 815,172 acres, their gross estimated rental is £'307,308, and their rateable value 

 £293,017. The estimated extent of the rights of sporting is 14,436,405 acres, 

 the gross estimated rental £498,852, and the rateable value £485,276. The 

 estimated extent of the mines is 1,247 acres, their gross estimated rental is 

 £754,520, and their rateable value £654,611. — Agriculinral Gazette. 



