In order to test this matter about a bushel of native spruce seed was sown in 1903 

 in such a grove. The poplars ranged in diameter from 4 to 10 in. The seed was scat- 

 tered on fallen leaves, decaying wood, and on all spots where the mineral soil was 

 exposed. About 8 qt. of seed was used per acre. An examination of the area in 

 July, 1904, showed that where mineral soil had been exposed and on rotten wood 

 the little trees were doing well and in many places 4 or 5 trees were found per 

 square foot. Where the leaves were thick, however, the trees were scarce. 



It is believed that over the whole ground they were sufficiently numerous to make 

 a satisfactory evergreen forest if they all continue to grow. A further examination 

 in August, 1905, showed that the trees were still alive and about as numerous as the 

 preceding* year. 



The influence of different degrees of thinning- on the stem form of spruce, 

 M. Kunze (Tharand. Forstl. Jahrb., 55 (1905), No. 2, pp. 138-150). — Diameter meas- 

 urements of the boles of 228 trees selected from a section of a forest which had been 

 (a) lightly thinned and (b) medium thinned, and of 187 trees selected from a section 

 (c) strongly thinned, are given in an extended series of tables. The trees were about 

 83 years old at the time of the measurements and many in the strongly thinned 

 section had been broken by a storm. The measurements are given without con- 

 clusions. 



The maple sugar industry, W. F. Fox and W. F. Hubbard (U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Bur. Forestry Bui. 59, pp. 1-45, pis. 8, figs. 10). — The history of the maple sugar 

 industry is briefly outlined and data given on its present status. 



It appears that about seven-eighths of the maple product sold to-day is spurious. 

 Since 1850 there has been a gradual decrease both in quantity of sugar and in the 

 sugar-producing area of the country. The various sugar maple trees are briefly 

 described and suggestions given regarding the improvement of mature dense maple 

 groves for sugar-making purposes, and of open groves, dense young groves, and 

 thickets. An ordinary mature thrifty maple will produce about 12 gal. of sap or 3 

 lbs. of sugar per season. The sap is stated to contain on an average about 3 per cent 

 of sugar. 



Directions are given for the manufacture of sugar and sirup, including the tapping 

 of the trees, gathering of the sap and its evaporation, with the estimated cost of the 

 various operations. A grove in which the ground is well shaded and which each 

 season carries a heavy carpet of leaves is thought best for sugar crops, since the trees 

 are less exposed to undesirable extremes of temperature during the sap season. 



Germinating Para rubber seeds [Agr. News [Barbados'], 4 (1905) , No. 90, p. 293). — 

 Platforms were erected about 4 ft. from the ground and over these old sacking was 

 stretched. They were then covered over with a little powdered charcoal and the seeds 

 placed on this and covered with more sacking and the whole kept damp by occa- 

 sional watering. As the seeds sprouted they were removed and potted. Seventy- 

 five per cent of a case of seeds received from Peradeniya germinated after this treat- 

 ment, notwithstanding they had been delayed over 3 weeks in transit. 



The cultivation and preparation of Para rubber, W. H. Johnson (London: 

 Crosby Lockwood & Son, 1904, pp. XII-\-99, pis. 5, fig. 1) . — Directions are given for 

 the culture of Para rubber, including methods of tapping, preparation of rubber from 

 the latex, yield of Para rubber from cultivated trees in Ceylon, Malay Peninsula, and 

 the Gold Coast, and the commercial value of the oil in hevia seeds. 



The rubber industry in Peru, J. M. von Hassel (La ihdustria gomera en el 

 Peru. Lima: Opinion National, 1905, pp. 29, figs. 4). — This is a popular pamphlet on 

 the rubber industry in Peru, with notes on the species grown, distribution, clima- 

 tology of different sections, cultural methods, and the future of the industry. 



Report on rubber in the Gold Coast, W. H. Johnson ( Gold Coast, W. Africa: 

 Dept. Agr., 1905, pp. 15). — Statistics are given of the rubber production of the Gold 



