32-t JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



to 90 per cent of French turpentine passes over between 155° and 165°. 



Commercially considered, a very interesting result of these experi- 

 ments is the trade estimate made of the quality of turpentine obtained 

 from Boswellia serrata compared with American and European tur- 

 pentines produced from pine resin. The general statement is made that 

 Boswellia turpentine, consisting mainly of dextro-pinene, is as good as 

 the best American and French turpentines. Submitted to manufac- 

 turers of varnishes for practical trial, it was found to dissolve colo- 

 phony, dammar, sandarac, and soft copal as readily as pine turpentines. 

 The "drying face" of varnishes made with Boswellia and other turpen- 

 tines were practically identical, but Boswellia varnishes dried more 

 rapidly than others and were uniformly dull, those made with Amer- 

 ican turpentine remaining bright. As a substitute for the American 

 product it is said that Boswellia turpentine would probably be placed 

 between the French or Spanish and the Swedish or Russian oils. 



Boswellia rosin is similar to pine rosin in physical characteristics and, 

 except for soap-making, can be used for the other purposes to which 

 pine rosin is put. Its color corresponds with grade "G" of pine rosins 

 (golden brown), the highest grade of which is nearly as clear as win- 

 dow-glass. 



Boswellia gum. in appearance not unlike gum-arabic, was tried as a 

 base in the manufacture of sizing for textiles, etc., but owing to lack 

 of complete solubility in water, due to the presence of resin, it cannot 

 be used for these purposes without special treatment. 



G. B. S. 



Annual Progress Report upon State forest Administration in South 

 Australia for the Year iQiy-iS. By W. Gill. Woods and Forests De- 

 partment. Adelaide, S. A. 1918. Pp. 13. 



This is a well-illustrated report. The forest reserves and plantations 

 of the State comprise around 154,000 acres, 22,300 of which are fenced 

 in for planting and natural regeneration. In spite of a dearth of labor 

 and the difficulty in importing plant material, 582 acres were planted in 

 191 7. The plantations are mainly of Finns insignis for boxboard, and, 

 due to the difficulty of importing softwoods, a good home market for 

 home-grown material developed. 



Altogether the financial showing is gratifying, the revenue being 

 $20,000 ahead of the previous year, the total being over $70,000, against 

 $107,000 expenditures. Since the beginning of the forest department 

 in 1876, the expenditures have amounted to over $2,000,000, while the 



