44 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



27-30, pis. S). — Favorable results in the use of L. glauca as a green manure 

 crop for tea plantations are here reported. 



Individual variation in the alkaloidal content of belladonna plants, A. F. 

 SiEVERS (U, 8. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 1 (1913), No. 2, pp. 129-1^6, 

 fig. 1). — The author has started an investigation to determine the possibility of 

 modifying the chemical constituent of a plant by breeding and selection. This 

 paper presents the results of three years' observations relative to the variation 

 of the quantity of alkaloids in the belladonna plant as studied at the drug- 

 testing garden at Bell, Md., and at the Arlington Experimental Farm. 



Summarizing the work as a whole it was found that the variation of the 

 percentage of alkaloids in the leaves of the different plants is exceedingly large, 

 hence the testing of a general sample from all plants collectively is not always 

 a safe means of judgment. A considerable number of plants with leaves rich 

 in alkaloids in one season were found to have equally rich leaves in the follow- 

 ing season, and they frequently manifested the same characteristics at the 

 various stages of growth during the season in comparison with other plants. 

 The same facts were true with regard to plants which bear leaves with a 

 low percentage of alkaloids. Thus far, however, nothing has been found to 

 indicate that any correlation exists between the physical appearance of the 

 plant and the alkaloidal content of its leaves, luxuriant growth being no cri- 

 terion of the medicinal value of the plant. 



From the point of view of the percentage of alkaloids present in the leaves and 

 the quantity of material available, the leaves can be picked to best advantage 

 from the time of flowering until the early berries begin to ripen. They are 

 richer in alkaloids later in the season but are then too small and sparse for 

 harvesting. 



Rose geranium culture, E. Chaeabot and C. K Gatin (Jour. Agr. Trop., 13 

 (1913), No. 148, pp. 289-295). — A descriptive account in which consideration is 

 given to the origin of rose geranium culture in France, Algeria, and Reunion, 

 methods of propagation, cultural details, enemies and diseases, harvesting, dis- 

 tillation and yields, and the present and future status of the industry. 



FORESTRY. 



Forestry, H. Hausrath (Die Waldimrtschaft. In Das Lehen der Pflanze, 

 Alt. IV: Die Pflanzen und der Mensch, Vol. I. Stuttgart, 1913, pp. 471-611, pis, 

 4, figs. 70). — An encyclopedic treatise in which consideration is given to the 

 history of forestry, forest management, forest protection, forest statistics, 

 beneficial effects of woods, and ornamental value of woodlands. 



Forestry, A. Kostlan (Jahresl)er, Landw., 27 (1912), pp. 215-228). — A re- 

 view of recent contributions to forest literature in Germany. 



Logging, R. C. Bryant (Neiv York and London, 1913, pp. XVIII -{-590, figs. 

 133). — A text-book on the principles and general methods of operation in the 

 United States. Part 1 contains a general discussion of forest resources, pro- 

 tection of forest property, and timber bonds. The succeeding parts take up 

 in detail the methods of preparing logs for transport, land transport, water 

 transport, summary of logging methods in specific regions, and minor industries. 



A bibliography together with terms used in logging (E. S. R., 17, p. 373), 

 log rules, and other data relating to the industry are appended. 



Work of the Dominion Forestry Branch, R. H. Campbell (Com. Conserv, 

 Canada Rpt., 4 (1913), pp. 32-40).— A review of the work of the Dominion 

 Forestry Branch, presented at the fourth annual meeting of the Commission 

 of Conservation of Canada, Ottawa, January 21-22, 1913. 



