228 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



On page 83 I notice a typographical error. The word serradella is 

 spelled seradilla. Again, on page 83, I notice the author speaks of 

 fungi which live in a symbiotic relation with the roots of leguminous 

 plants. Are they bacteria (Pseudomonas), and did the author have in 

 mind when writing it the mycorrhiza, which seem to be important in 

 connection with the growth of some of the leguminos?e? 



On page 84 a statement is made that lime does not improve loose 

 soils, whereas it is generally claimed that it does if used in moderate 

 quantities and in suitable form. It has also been claimed in Europe 

 that acid phosphate exerts an important flocculating effect upon clay 

 soils, and this is an important constituent of commercial fertilizers ; 

 hence it would appear probable that commercial fertilizers containing 

 it would improve the texture of clay soils. Furthermore, not all com- 

 mercial fertilizers are as subject to leaching as would be inferred from 

 the statement, as they vary very widely in this particular. 



On page 85 the nodules on soy-beans are spoken of as being larger 

 than on cowpeas. As I read it, I thought the inference intended was 

 that consequently more nitrogen was gathered by them. If my memory 

 serves me correctly, my observations, together with those of many other 

 investigators, are to the effect that when the inoculation is somewhat 

 imperfect larger nodules developed than otherwise, yet with more per- 

 fect inoculation there may be greater nitrogen assimilation. 



H. J. W. 



The Kiln Drying of Lumber. By H. D. Tiemann. J. B. Lippincott 

 Co., Philadelphia. 1917. Pp. 316. Illus. Price, $4. 



This is an exceedingly timely volume dealing with a subject now of 

 paramount importance to the United States and her allies because of 

 the immediate demand for vast quantities of certain woods for military 

 purposes. 



The principles of scientific kiln-drying of wood worked out by the 

 author have resulted in the perfection of a dry kiln which has been 

 adopted as the standard for seasoning the immense quantity of spruce 

 required for the carrying out of our airplane program, for black walnut 

 and other woods for gun-stocks, and for woods used in shipbuilding. 

 Under former methods of operation the satisfactory artificial season- 

 ing of these woods in a short time was impossible. 



The book treats in a comprehensive way of the structure and prop- 

 erties of wood, the physical changes that occur during the process of 

 drying, present practices in vogue at sawmills and woodworking plants, 



