2r>4 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Notes on the occurrence of mannan in the wood of certain trees and in 

 various roots and fruits, F. II. Stoheh ( Ihtl. BiiKftei/ Im^l., .> {I'JO:',), III,jiji. 47-68). — 

 In continuation of a previous article (PI S. R., 14, p. 21), the author given the results 

 of his investigations on the occurrence of mannan in the wood of various trees, roots, 

 and fruits. In the earlier ])ul)lication the conclusion was reached that mannan was 

 probably more abundant in pine trees at certain seasons of the year than others. In 

 investigating this subject sjiecimens were collected monthly during a year from a 

 young, thrifty white-pine tree and subjected to examination by methods which are 

 fully described. 



It was found that pines, and presumably other coniferous trees, contain late in 

 summer and early in autumn a large reserve supply of mannan. The physiological 

 relation of this substance is somewhat obscure, Imt it is thought that it prol)ably 

 serves as a reserve food for the formation of new leaves to take the place of those 

 which fall at the end of the season, or it may serve for the nourishment and growth 

 during the winter of those leaves which, with the advent of spring, cause the falling 

 off of the older foliage. The presence or absence of mannan in the wood of 17 other 

 species as well as in the leaves, fruit, and other portions of a number of plants is 

 indicated. 



Tests on the physical properties of timber, F. E. Olmsted {U. S. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook 1903, jyp. 533-5S8, pis. 2). — An outline is given of the timber testing work 

 carried on in Euro^je, and a brief review of the timber tests that have been conducted 

 in the United States, particularly those made some years ago by this Dejiartment as 

 well as the ones conducted by other institutions. It is the intention to continue 

 timber testing observations, and they will be made on a large scale representing 

 different conditions of the timber market and of timber cutting. The experiments 

 will \)e conducted on such a scale that the results obtained will be comparable and 

 valuable to the lumber industry. 



Factors influencing the volume of solid wood in the cord, R. G. Zon {For- 

 estry Quart., 1 {1903), No. 4, pp. 136-133).— ^Yith the rapid development of the pulp 

 industry, the importance of the accurate determination of the contents of stacks of 

 wood has been largely increased. A number of factors which influence the volume 

 of solid wood in the measured cord are mentioned, and their varying effect is shown. 

 The principal factors described are length and diameter of the sticks, their form, the 

 species, method of piling, measuring, etc. Tables are given showing the volume of 

 wood in stacks, the computations being made for different lengths, diameters, and 

 classes of wood. 



The influence of forestry upon the lumber industry, O. W. Price ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr. Yearbook 1903, jjp. 309-313, pis. 3) . — The author states that the lumber industry 

 ranks fourth among the manufacturing industries of the United States, representing 

 an invested capital of $611,000,000, an annual outlay of more than $100,000,000 in 

 wages, and an annual value of i^roducts of $566,000,000. Under the present system 

 of cutting this production can not be long sustained, and the author seeks to show 

 how, under conservative methods of lumbering, the industry may be prolonged and 

 placed upon a stable basis. One of the results under a scientific system of manage- 

 ment would be the elimination of the large sawmills and the erection of small mills 

 in various localities. It Avould also tend to develop a class of trained forest workers 

 such as are found in Europe, and by providing a steady supply of lumber it would 

 caxise less fluctuation in the market prices. 



The forest and irrigation, Hefele {Bnl. Col. Agr. Imp. Univ. Tokyo, 5 {1903), 

 No. 3,j)p- 345-371). — The importance of forest growth as a conserver of water is 

 discussed. 



A bibliography of forestry, O. Williams {Forestry Quart., 1 {1903), No. 4, pp- 

 163-173). — A list of titles of articles relating to forestry which were published in 

 United States Congressional documents and printed in what is commonly designated 

 as the ' ' sheep set. ' ' 



