344 . EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Quercus rubra, Robinia pseudacacia, Juglans nigra, Picea excelsa, Larix euro- 

 pcea, Pintis laricio, P. laricio austriaca, P. strobiis, Pseudotsuga douglasii, and 

 Abies pectinata. 



Some West African timbers (Bui. Imp. InM,. [So. Kensington], S {1910), 

 No. 3, pp. '231-2^5). — Samples of wood of a number of different timbers from 

 the Gold Coast Colony, Northern Nigeria, and Gambia are reported on relative 

 to their distinguishing characteristics, working qualities, and the purposes to 

 which they can be applied. A majority of the woods are considered of more 

 value for local use than for export. 



On the variation of growth among forest trees with special reference to 

 the so-called spreading' faculty, I^. A. Hauch (Forstiv. Centbl., n. ser., 32 

 {1910), No. 11, pp. 565-578, pis. 6, dgm. 1). — The author defines the " spreading 

 faculty" (Ausbreituugsvermogens), which he considers as hereditary, as the 

 faculty of a given tree species to develop, out of a certain number of plants 

 grown under the same environment and cultural treatment, a greater or smaller 

 number of individuals of the first or middle size classes. The smaller the num- 

 ber of trees in the larger size classes, the greater the spreading faculty of the 

 species. 



The importance of considering the spreading faculty of a species in connection 

 with its cultural treatment is discussed at length. The evidence secured from 

 beech and oak stands in the Bregenzer Wald region tends to show that the great 

 spreading faculty of these species can be best regulated so as to produce the 

 most uniform stand of trees by starting the cultural area with a dense plant 

 cover, and following this up by early, frequent, and light thinnings rather than 

 by severe thinnings at long intervals. 



Although the cause of the beneficial action of a dense stand of seedlings or 

 plants in promoting uniformity of growth is diflicult to determine, the author 

 suggests a possible greater bacterial activity under the dense cover. In lieu of 

 this hypothesis it is suggested that the greater number of plants in the initial 

 stand may include a greater number of individuals possessing desired character- 

 istics in form and size. Portions of Johannsen's statistical study of variation 

 (E. S. E., 21, p. 771) are cited in suppoi't of the latter theory. 



The algaroba in Hawaii, E. V. Wilcox {Haicaii Sta. Press Bui. 26, pp. S). — 

 A brief account of the algaroba {Prosopis juUflora) relative to its introduction 

 into Hawaii, botany, habits, and uses with special reference to the use of 

 algaroba beans as stock feed. 



Utilization of California eucalypts, H. S. Betts and C. S. Smith {TJ. 8. 

 Dept. Agr., Forest 8erv. Circ. 119, pp. 30, figs. 7). — This circular gives in con- 

 densed form the results of mechanical tests conducted in cooperation with the 

 University of California of 5 of the more common species of eucalypts being 

 grown in that State. The status of other unfinished experiments in seasoni'ng, 

 together with some information in regard to the uses of eucalyptus wood in 

 California and Australia, are also considered. 



The results of the tests thus far made show that the strength of the same 

 species grown in different localities or of different trees cut in the same locality 

 may vary considerably. Sugar gum ( Eucalyptus coriinocaliia') which gave the 

 highest strength values, together with blue gum {F. globulus) and red gum 

 {E. rostrata), compare favorably in strength with white oak, pignut, and shag- 

 bark hickory, while gray gum {E. tereticornis) and manna gum {E. viminalis) 

 rank with the weaker varieties of hickory. Sufficient data have not been 

 secured to compare the toughness of eucalypts with that of hickory. 



It is pointed out that in wood from trees as young as the California growers 

 generally count on cutting, the tendency to warp, shrink, and check in drying 

 is much stronger than in wood from mature forest-grown trees in Australia and 



