RKVIKWS 851 



We regret to say that from this latter point of view we are somewhat 

 disappointed. For practical purposes, there seems to us both too little 

 and too much; too Httle in the way of explaining principles and ton 

 much in describing methods ; too little practical aid in choice of meth- 

 ods and too much academic discussion. While, for instance, the chap- 

 ter on ''Forest Administration" is interesting enough, it lacks practical 

 value; it could have been greatly condensed, and part of the eighteen 

 pages could have been usefully employed in expanding on silvical topics 

 in order to help the readers in forming a judgment as to the choice of 

 silvicultural methods. Occasion should also, in that connection, have 

 been taken to define forest types — a term used repeatedly without defi- 

 nition, as far as we could find. 



In the chapter on "Regulating the Cut" (or, as we prefer, the felling 

 budget) the lack of a clear statement of principles and the almost 

 exclusive reliance on mathematical formulae will make tough reading 

 for the average timberland owner and the choice of method puzzling. 

 Altogether, mathematical formulae and discussions in various parts of 

 the volume are of questionable value for the particular class of readers, 

 as, for example, the formulas for contents of geometric solids, on page 

 44, which seem to us an unnecessary addition. Sometimes mathematics 

 are misleading, as, for instance, when according to table on page 13 

 the cost of a boundary survey of a lo-acre lot works out only $1. 



Under "Rotation" it w^ould have been pertinent to give a practical 

 example how to come to a technical rotation. A simple improvement 

 of determining this rotation might have been mentioned, namely, basing 

 it on desired log length and diameter at the small end. when the time 

 for reaching the log length plus the time for making that diameter will 

 be the rotation. That this rotation "is the one most commonly used in 

 the United States" would make it appear as if anything in forest man- 

 agement is "common" with us. 



What would a private timberland owner do with the elaborate work- 

 ing plan, the outline of which covers more than 10 printed pages? 



Perhaps we have been unfair in viewing the work from too narrow 

 a point and assuming an object which was not in the mind of the 

 authors. If so. the volume for the practice of the private owner is 

 still to be written. For the present work the authors would have been 

 perfectlv justified in claiming a place as a repetitorium for technical 

 students and perhaps as a handbook for ranger schools, to be used 

 under competent guidance. 



There are only a few technical questions on which we may make 

 ()l)servations. 



