I'-'-^O] I-ORESTRY. 649 



wlit'ii' tilt' fcitilizt'i- is iiu(jr[)nr;it( (i witli tlu' soil, tankaL'c ami bone aro dt'eiiied 

 ideal. 



The oujission of nitrate alter heavy initial use of the same in orchard 

 fertilization will soon result in a material reduction in the vit^or of the trees and 

 yield of the fruit as compared with plats upon which nitrogenous applications 

 are continued. In connection with the laying out of such experiments, it is 

 pointed out that heginning with trees 15 to 20 years of age, even if these be 

 stunted and small for their age at the outset, it is doubtful whether quickly 

 available nitrogenous fertilization can be conducted longer than from 3 to 5 years 

 without serious "cross-feeding" by trees of different fertilizetl plats unless the 

 plats in each case be separated by an untreated or neutral row. The results in 

 this orchard ahso have demonstrated the combined value of pruning, spraying, 

 fertilization, and mulching in rejuvenating unprolitable apple orchards. 



Increasing the liroduction of the bearing apple orchard, C. P. ILvlligan 

 {Michigan Sta. Virc. Jf3 {1920), pp. IS, fiys. 7). — This circular contains practical 

 suggestions on orchard management. 



Cost of producing apples in Ave counties in western New York, 19 10- 

 1»15, G. H. MiLi.iiK {U. S. Dept. Ayr. Bui. 851 {1920), pp. //7, figs. 16).— X con- 

 tribution from the Oflice of Farm Management of this Department, this bwlle- 

 tin treats of the i-elation the orchard bears to the culture of other fruits and 

 farm crops in the region under investigation, of the orchard practices followed 

 by the more successful growers, the effect of these practices on yields, the 

 returns derived from different systems of orchard management, and the cost 

 of maintaining orchards under each system. Detailed information is presented 

 as to the time re<iuired to perform each operation, the necessary equipment, 

 the size of the orchard, the age of the trees, yield of fruit, and other related 

 factors. 



Two hundred and eighteen bearing apple orchards averaging 40 years of 

 age were included in the study. The average acreage per farm studied was 

 118.G5 ; of bearing apple orchard, 14 ; other fruit, 1.'().44 ; and general crops, 

 73.TG. The average yield per acre was 84.1 bbls. (exclusive of culls), and the 

 average number of trees per acre 35. The average investment per farm was 

 Si'5,424. and the average investment per acre of bearing apple orchard was 

 .S514. The total net cost of production per barrel was $1.41, divided as fol- 

 lows: Maintenance 20.24 per cent, handling 10.15, material 41.31, and fixed 

 charges 28.30 per cent. 



Nut trees, A. K. Ciiittenukn {Michigan Sta. Quart. Bid. 2 {1920), No. 1^, pp. 

 185, 186). — Brief suggestions are given on the culture of nut trees in Michigan. 



Useful wild plants of the United States and Canada, C. F. Saunders {Xeio 

 York: Robert M. McBride tt Co., 1920, pp. 12-\-275, pis. 16, figs. 73).— A popular 

 account of the uses of various wild plants. The successive chaptei's discuss 

 wild plants with edible tubers, bulbs, or roots, wild seeds of food value and 

 how they have been utilized, the acorn as human food and some other wild 

 nuts, some little-regarded wild fruits and berries, wild plants with edible stems 

 and leaves, beverage plants of field and wood, vegetable substitutes for soap, 

 some medicinal wildings worth knowing, and miscellaneous u.ses of wild plants. 

 The work concludes with a cautionary chapter on certain poisonous plants. 

 A regional index is also given. 



FORESTRY. 



Timber depletion and the answer (17. S. Dept. Agr., Dept. Circ. 112 {1920), 

 pp. 16). — A summary of the report on timber depletion and related subjeets 

 prepared by the Forest Service of this Department in response to Senate 



