754 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



to the conclusion that the number of capsules per plant depends almost entirely 

 on the condition of the land and the space allowed for the development of each 

 plant. 



FORESTRY. 



The hardy conifers of Central Europe, E. Schelle (Die Winterharten 

 NadcUwIzrr Mitteleuropas. ^tuitgart, 1909. pp. VIII+356, figs. 171, pi. 1, 

 map 1). — This is a handbook for gardeners and garden lovers in which the 

 author presents in concise form, aided by illustrations, the distinguishing char- 

 acteristics of the native and exotic species and ornamental varieties of conifers 

 adapted to the German climate. Consideration is also given to the habitat and 

 niori)hology of conifers, together with cultural practices and methods of 

 propagation. 



Form and content of the fir, A. Schiffel (Mitt. Forstl, Versuchsic. Onlfrr., 

 1908, No. S-i, pp. 96). — This is the fourth of a series of form and volume tables 

 for conifers which the authftr has prepared by the form (luotient method ( E. S. 

 R., 18. p. 1052). The tables for white pine have been noted (E. S. R., 19, 

 p. 746), and similar tables for spruce and larch have been published." The 

 author is of the opinion that all other conifers can be cubed with sufficient 

 accuracy by using the tables for one of the above-named kind. The form 

 quotient method, however, can only be applied with safety to deciduous trees 

 in computing the value of the bole up to where the crown starts. 



Notes on the growth of pine trees at Greendale, T. W. Adams {Ccniterhury 

 Agr. and Pristorai Assoc: Jour.. 10 (190S). Xo. 5, pp>. 115-117). — Brief notes are 

 given on the growth of some 50 species of pine on the author's plantation in 

 New Zealand. Piniis Inricio, P. couiieri, P. insignis, and P. ponderosa are 

 especially recommended for planting in that country. 



Seeds of Lophira alata from Sierra Leone (Bui. Imp. Inst., 6 (1908), No. 3, 

 pp. 2-'fS-2-io). — Analyses are given of the seeds of L. alaia, a tree already known 

 as one of the sources of the so-called African oak. 



The seed was tested relative to its value as an oil seed. The fat content 

 ranged from 31.19 per cent to 43 per cent, and the oil was valued by a soap 

 manufacturer at about $5 to $10 per ton more than cotton-seed oil under 

 ordinary market conditions. It has not as yet been determined at what price 

 the seed can be marketed. 



Timbers from Uganda (Bill. Imp. Inst.. 6 (1908). No. 3, pp. 227-239).— 

 Descriptions are given of over 50 T'^ganda timbers including several new species 

 and genera relative to the wood structure and probable economic value of each. 



On hardness tests of wood. (i. Janka (Centhi. Gesam. Forstio., 3.J (1908), 

 No. 11, pp. Ji43-456, fig. 1). — In a previous experiment the author determined 

 the relative hardness of several kinds of wood by pressing into the wood, both 

 radially and longitudinally, a small half-ball sha])ed iron die (E. S. R.. 18, p. 

 341). A similar experiment is here reported, including the tabular results, in 

 which the resistance of the wood of both conifers and hardwoods to the ball- 

 shaped die was compared with its resistance to a cone-shaped die making the 

 same sized impression at the surface of the wood. 



As in the former experiment, an inci'ease in the specific gravity of the wood 

 was accompanied by an increased hai'dness. In all cases the hardness numbers 

 with the ball-shaped die were greater than with the cone-shaped die. side im- 

 pressions with the ball-shaped die giving the highest hardness numbers and 

 end impressions with the cone-shaped die giving the lowest. The differences 



«Mitt. Forstl. Versuchsw. Osterr., 1899, No. 24; 1905, No. 31. 



