262 EXPERIMENT STATION UKCORD. 



l>t. ■>, j)/). '>'>-74, pl-"^- 4)- — Botanical di'scriplioiis ami iKitcs arc f^ivcu of a nuiuber of 

 Australian timber troef<, together witii their iliHtrihution and tlieir timber character- 

 istii's and uses. The sjjecie.s liere described are the red cedar (Cedrcld australi'!) , red 

 mahogany {I'jicdhjptiis ix'.thii/ern), and the she-beech {Vri/ptororya obovata). 



Forestry at Hongkong, M. Winchester {Forestry and Trrig., 9 {1903), No. 6, 

 pp. 280-284, fiijs. 4)- — The author states that in 1842, when Hongkong was ceded to 

 Great Britain, the surrounding country was i)ractically barren of vegetation. In 

 187H planting was bi'gun, the most extensive work being the setting out of 5,000 

 cocoa palms. By 18<S0 it hail become demonstrated that trees could be made to 

 grow on the exposed slopes; and in 1881, instead of planting nursery [ilants as here- 

 tofore, an attempt was made lo produce the Chinese white pine by planting the 

 seeds in i)lace. This proved successful and was accomplished at about one-fifth of 

 the cost of the nursery plan. Since that time a luimber of varieties of trees have 

 been planted, and, although the Chinese white pine is the most prominent species, a 

 large number of others are well represented. The region about Hongkong has 

 become reforested, and but little is now done by the forest department aside from 

 broadcasting seed and occasional planting to fill up areas where trees have for some 

 reason been destroyed. This experiment is believed to be a practical demonstration 

 of the feasibility of tree j)lanting aljout large cities on hilly and rocky soils. 



Administration report of the forest department of the Bombay Presidency, 

 W. A. Talhot, T. B. Fry, and K. S. F. Fa(;an {Fared Jhpl., Bomhai/ J'remlmcy, 

 India, Bpt. 1901-2, jfp. 98+ LXXYIII). — This is a combined report of the Northern, 

 Central, and Southern Forest Circles of the Bombay Presidency, covering the forest 

 year 1901-2. The reserve forest area described embraces 11,959 square miles, divided 

 as follows: Northern Circle, 1,434 square iniles; Central Circle, 6,251 square miles, 

 and Southern Circle, 4,274 square miles. In addition to the above areas, 1,250 square 

 miles are designated as protected forest area. The changes in the various tracts dur- 

 ing the year are noted, slight additions ])eing indicated. Detailed accounts are given 

 of the surveys made during the period covered by the report, and statements regard- 

 ing the working plans and systems of forest management. The amount and value of 

 the different kinds of forest products are taljulated, with comparisons of the previous 

 years. A l^rief report on tlie forests of Sind is added. 



Progress report on the forest administration in Coorg, C. D. McCarthy 

 {Fored Dept., Coorg, India, Rpt. luOl-2, pp. 27). — The classified forest area under 

 reservation on the 30th of June, 1902, is said to be 404,590 acres. A detailed report 

 is given of the management of the forest lands, the means adopted for the |)revention 

 of forest tires, and the regulations concerning grazing and the use of the forest prod- 

 ucts. The gross returns are given, showing a con.siderable increase over previous 

 years. 



The locust, W. L. Hall {Forestry and In'ig., 9 {1903), No. 6, pp. 307-309, fig. 1). — 

 The range, habits, and methods for planting the yellow or black locust {Hobinia 

 pseudacacia) are described. This tree, originally indigenous to the mountains from 

 Pennsylvania to Georgia, has become widely naturalized throughout the United 

 States east of the Rocky Mountains, and has proved itself adapted to some of the 

 valleys of the farther Western States. The rate of growth is rapid, particularly in 

 rich soils where the annual increase is from 2 to 4 ft. in height and \ to 2 in. in 

 diameter. This rate of growth diminishes after about 30 years, and the trees become 

 mature in about 50 years. At this time they average from 40 to 80 ft. in height, with 

 a diameter of 2 to 3 ft. 



The timber of the locust has been found adapted to use as fence jjosts, in construc- 

 tion, for telegraphic insulators, and in the manufacture of vehicles. Its most common 

 use is for fence posts, for which purpose it has been extensively planted. A post 4 to 

 5 in. in diameter may be produced on good soil in from 7 to 8 years, and will last 

 from 8 to 15 yeai's. 



