642 BXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED. 



tho Padang is unusually fine, some of the trees being more ttian 11 ft, high at 

 a little ovei' o years from seed. 



An experiment in felling the coffee shade on a part of the college farm to 

 rid the coffee of the destructive ant {Myrmelachista amUgna ramulorum) has 

 been highly successful. Tests of coffee seed were repeated during the year 

 with the result, as of previous tests, that seed that had been severely dried 

 showed a rapid loss of viability. 



In the test of different varieties of vanilla V. planifoUa appears promising 

 since it held its pods during very dry weather. Of the plantings of 200 trees 

 of Castilla sp. of rubber made in 1903 less than 100 have survived to date. 

 The trees have grown best on lower land near water. It was found that the 

 vir.bility of Castilla seed could be prolonged considerably by keeping the seed 

 between layers of fine soil and charcoal, mixed and slightly dampened. Even 

 with this method, however, the germination percentage fell rapidly after 5 

 weeks. 



The banana in Fiji, C. H. Knowles and F. P. Jepson {Dept. Agr. Fiji Bui. 

 4, 1912, pp. n, pis. 3). — A brief popular treatise on braiana culture, including 

 information relative to the treatment of insect and fungus pests, and regula- 

 tions for shipping fruit. 



Annonaceous possibilities for the plant breeder, P. J. Wester {Philippine 

 Agr. Rev. [English Ed.], 6 {WIS), No. 7, pp. 312-321, pis. 6).— The author calls 

 attention to the possibilities of the genus Annona from the standpoint of tropi- 

 cal plant breeders, and described some 49 species which are believed to be 

 worthy of introduction and cultivation for breeding work, for testing as stocks 

 for the species already In cultivation, or for ornamental purposes. 



The development of the red hybrid tea rose {Gard. Chron., 3. ser., 54 (1913), 

 Nns. 1386, pp. 41, 42; 1387, pp. 64, 65; 1389, pp. 99, 100).— This comprises a 

 historical sketch of the development of modern red roses. 



FORESTRY. 



The relation of forests in the Atlantic plain to the humidity of the cen- 

 tral States and prairie reg'ion, R. Zon (Science, n. ser., 3S (1913), No. 068, pp. 

 63-75. figs. 2). — The general conclusion reached in this paper is that forests in 

 wide plains of continents, especially in the path of moist winds, " by increasing 

 the evaporation from the land at the expense of surface run-off enrich with 

 moisture the passing air currents, and in this way help to carry it in larger 

 quantities into the interior of continents. The destruction of such forests, 

 especially if it leaves the ground bare or partly covered with only weak vege- 

 tation which does not transpire large quantities of water, must inevitably affect 

 the climate, not so much the climate of the region in which the destruction took 

 place but the drier regions into which the prevailing air currents flow." The 

 author, however, lays special emphasis upon the fact that " the effect of forests 

 upon climate, if viewed as a local influence, must necessarily be insignifi- 

 cant. . . . Local observations, no matter how accurately and minutely carried 

 out, can not lead us to the solution of the problem." 



Pros and cons on tlie forest and flood question, T. P. Roberts (Prof. Mem. 

 Corps Engin. U. S, Army, 5 (1913), No. 23, pp. 568-585, figs. 3).— The author 

 presents considerable data to support his contention that forests have A^ery 

 little influence on the flood stage of streams. 



Forest laws of Verniont and instructions to fire wardens and others regard- 

 ing forest fires, A. F. Hawes ([Vt.] Forest Serv. Pub. 12, 1913, pp. 28. pis. S).— 

 Part 1 of this pamphlet contains the act creating the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture and Forestry in 1908, together with all laws pertaining to forestry which 



V. 



