REVIEWS 109 



this respect. In the central mountainous region is found the heaviest 

 rainfall, amounting to a maximum of 169 inches. Abundant rain and 

 the absence of protracted droughts characterize the north side of the 

 island ; the reverse is true on the south side, where several months will 

 elapse with little or no rain. 



While the island was originally covered with virgin forests, but 2 per 

 cent of the total land area now contains virgin forests ; but the total 

 wood area, including virgin and second growth forests, is estimated to 

 be 20 per cent of the total land area. A small map is published show- 

 ing the original distribution of the forest formations, as follows : First, 

 littoral wood lands, 8 per cent ; moist deciduous forests, 7 per cent ; 

 tropical rain forests, 62 per cent ; dry deciduous forests, 23 per cent. 



The cause of the destruction of the forests is due to clearings made 

 for permanent agriculture, to the heavy demands for wood of all kinds 

 by the large population, and by the so-called "conuco" cultivation. This 

 "conuco" form of cultivation is prevalent in all tropical regions and is 

 the main cause for the scarcity of timber in many of them. It is a 

 primitive method of agriculture in which a small area is selected in 

 either the virgin or second-growth forests, the timber is felled and 

 burned, and the land crudely farmed for a few years and then aban- 

 doned by the cultivator. 



The author states that the planting of new forests is by far the most 

 important forestry work to be done in Porto Rico. He thinks that this 

 work can be done most effectively by the insular government itself. 

 In addition, of course, it should undertake a campaign of education, 

 investigative work in forestry, the care and management of the most 

 suitable parts of the insular domain for insular forests, and a co-opera- 

 tion with private individuals, municipalities, and others interested in 

 the practice of forestry. While some forest legislation has been 

 enacted, there is need for further legislation that will protect the pres- 

 ent forested area and control the waste in the forests so far as possible. 



Appendix I, entitled "Trees of Porto Rico," contains a brief descrip- 

 tion of some 172 woody species, and Appendix II contains a list of the 

 books consulted in the preparation of the bulletin. This bulletin is a 

 timely one and should be carefully read by all who have interest in our 

 newest territory. It is the presentation of the forest conditions on an 

 island that is practically destitute of commercial timber. There is an 

 excellent chance for the Porto Rican Government, as a part of the 

 United States, not only to materially increase the quantity and quality 

 of its local fuel supply, which is urgent, but to demonstrate the raising 

 of certain tropical timber trees, such as Spanish cedar and mahogany 



