1()74 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Africa than elsewhere. The cost of the course is less than half that of the English 

 course, and it can be completed in 2 instead of 3 years, as in Europe. 



About 2,000,000 cu. ft. of timber was imported into the Colony in 1903, while the 

 average yearly importation is about 700,000 cu. ft. It is estimated that the cost of 

 establishing timber areas in the Colony, carried out on the scale of at least 2,000 acres 

 per annum, would be about $50 per acre, spreading over a period of 30 years. 



Report forest department of the Madras Presidency for 1904-5 (Admin. 

 Rpt. Forest Dept. Madras, 1905, pp. 167). — This is a progress report covering the con- 

 stitution of the state forests, their management and administration during the year, 

 and financial results. The appendixes contain details regarding the acreage of forest 

 areas in the different districts and circles, lands under settlement, forest tracts pro- 

 tected from fire, the outturn of timber, fuel, and bamboo, revenues derived from 

 different sources, etc. 



Notes on the effects of frost on trees at the government nursery, Irene, 

 L. E. Taylor [Transvaal Agr. Jour., 4 (1906), No. 14, pp. 325-329).— Three methods 

 were employed to protect trees known to be tender to frost during the winter. These 

 were plant shelters, large screens, and covering with Hessian cloth. The plant 

 shelters were the most effective, and were made of rough Eucalypt poles and thin 

 branches. A framework was built of the poles about 6 ft. high, and over this thin 

 branches were laid at intervals of about 1 to 2 in. Although the shelters do not 

 keep out frost, they lessen its severity by preventing radiation, which is the cause of 

 most damage to trees during the winter. The behavior of about 90 species toward 

 frost is mentioned in detail. 



Planting white pme in Vermont, L. R. Jones ( Vermont Sta. Bid. 120, pp. 67-80, 

 figs. 7). — An account is given of forestry conditions in Vermont, with directions for 

 starting a pine forest, either with seeds, natural seedlings or nursery stock, and the 

 after care to be given it. 



On the University farms an experimental tree plantation was made some 8 years 

 ago on a dry, sterile, sandy soil, originally covered with pitch pine. The trees 

 planted were black locust, red oak, white birch, chestnut, cottonwood, box elder, 

 European larch, Norway spruce, and white pine, but only locust and white pine 

 have given promise of profitable return. There is some doubt as to whether locust 

 will be able to survive the attacks of borers, but the white pine has proved an unqual- 

 ified success. White pines that have been planted for 8 years now stand 7-9 it. 

 high and have made a growth of 2-4 ft. the last 2 summers. 



The starting of a forest by sowing seed broadcast is believed to be a hazardous 

 undertaking. Special attention is called to the fact that the year 1904 was a pine- 

 seed year and that there is an abundance of 1 -year-old seedlings now in the State, 

 and that these may well be used ior forestry purposes. On a small scale the trees 

 may be obtained from nurseries. The estimated cost of producing trees in a nursery 

 is placed at §2 per 1,000. Maple trees can be bought for about half the price of white 

 pine trees, and it is therefore more economical to plant about half and half maple 

 and pine. Pines grow as well as in pure stands, and as soon as they overtop the 

 maples they will kill out most of them. This will occur in about 20 years, and if 

 this natural thinning is not sufficient the maples should be cut out. 



The catalpa tree for cross-ties (Arboriculture, 5(1906) , No. 3, pp. 69-81, figs. 8) — 

 This is a report of F. 1. Brown, as chairman ot the Committee on Roadway and Bal- 

 last of the Pennsylvania Railway, on the use of the catalpa tree ior cross-ties, and is 

 essentially a compilation ot information on the value ot Catalpa speciosa for lumber, 

 posts, ties, etc. 



The value of cultivated rubber to the manufacturer ( Trap. Agr. and Mag. 

 Ceylon Agr. Soc, 25 (1905), No. 5, pp. 657-659).— This paper was prepared by C. P. 

 Fox, of Ohio, and is reprinted from the India Rubber Journal, August 28. It con- 

 tains an account of experiments with a large number of varieties of rubber to deter- 



