466 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



indicates primarily the choice of an intolerant conifer — larch or Sotch 

 or black pine. The author breaks a lance for the latter pine, which has 

 a poor reputation as regards the knotty material which it usually fur- 

 nishes in pure stands, but which is corrected by mixture in hardwoods. 

 Of tolerant conifers that recommend themselves, silver fir, Norway 

 spruce, and Douglas fir are discussed. The small spread of crown of 

 the spruce (not more than 25 feet diameter for old trees) is a charac- 

 teristic which makes it available for this mixed forest type. The same 

 characteristic appertains to the silver fir, even in a plains climate. In 

 discussing the Douglas fir, the author distinguishes between the green 

 and the blue (Colorado) variety. While the former is expected to have 

 no more crown spread than the spruce, the blue form is credited even 

 with less spread, owing to a pyramidal or columnar crown form, which 

 is so characteristic that it distinguishes the two varieties. This habit 

 and two other reasons — its adaptability to dry climate and frost re- 

 sistance—recommends it above the green form from the Pacific. The 

 author denies its slow growth except in early youth, in which it resem- 

 bles the silver fir ; he also denies its unadaptability to calcareous soils, 

 and the greater expense for the seed he hopes to overcome by the 

 "brotherly aid of the great Republic of the United States." 



The author acknowledges that the recommended introduction of the 

 pines — the Scotch for sandy, the Austrian for calcareous soils — is beset 

 with the danger of insect pests, but thinks these can be taken care of, 

 especially the lepidoptera, which can be combated by torches. 



Culture des Resineux. Revue des Eaux et Forets, February, 1918, pp. 25-31. 



In an extended discussion, E. Mer sings the 



Advantages praises of mixed forest for the fir forests in the 



of Vosges Mountains, advocating the introduction 



Mixed of the Norway spruce. He summarizes the ad- 



F or est vantages of this mixture in nine propositions: 



1. The risk of windfall and snowbreak are much decreased, the less 

 endangered fir offering support to the swaying spruce and the roots of 

 the latter having a chance for unobstructed surface expansion above 

 the deep-rooting fir. The reduction of windfall reduces the bark-beetle 

 damage. Where windfall occurs, it will not produce entire denudation 

 of the soil, due to the presence of the fir and its reproduction. 



2. The wind damage being overcome, a rational thinning practice 

 becomes practicable. 



3. Surer reproduction is secured and the mixture maintained if 

 proper means are used. 



