742 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



young evergreens were to be set out; a ledge of rock and mica forma- 

 tion; large stones and compact clay. One third of a stick of dynamite 

 was used for each shot with ij^ feet of fuse; 250 sapling trees were 

 planted in two days at a total cost of $98.50. The next year the trees 

 made a foot of new wood, some reaching 10 feet in height. After 

 two years these trees were a foot taller than trees of larger size planted 

 the year previous with pick and shovel. Out of the 250 trees planted 

 by dynamite only 19 were lost, and that was due to the fact that the 

 year of planting was the driest summer in 40 years. 



A very important decision by the Supreme Court of the State of 

 Washington confirms a verdict of an inferior court to the effect that 

 failure to use due diligence in preventing the spread of a fire to a 

 neighbor's property renders the owner of the premises on which the 

 fire starts absolutely liable for damages, regardless of the manner in 

 which the fire starts. The full text of the decision is given in Forest 

 Leaves, June, 1918, pp. 132-5, going into considerable detail of argu- 

 ment. 



A similar instance in Quebec is cited by the Canadian forestry Jour- 

 nal, July, 1918, p. 1772, in which the Superior Court condemned the 

 plaintiff" to pay all damages arising out of a fire he caused, amounting 

 to $8,313.88, and the decision was maintained by the Appeal Court. 



A correspondent of London, England, says Canadian foresters have 

 felled the famous tree which stood in front of Windsor Castle, known 

 as William the Conqueror's oak. The tree was reputed to be a favorite 

 of the Norman Duke, who protected it from deer. Old manuscripts 

 show the oak tree existed in the year 900. Latterly the tree became 

 unsightly and was very rotten. After ineffectual attempts to have it 

 reinforced with cement, the King ordered its removal. The timber 

 has very fine grain and color. One slab is used for a mantelpiece in 

 the small replica of a Canadian log cabin built by the Canadians in 

 Windsor Park as a tea room for the King. A number of souvenirs 

 have been made of the wood. One is a carved plaque of Windsor 

 Castle background and Indian's head. 



What is said to be the most valuable tree specimen in the world, 

 from a productive standpoint is the Gantor avocado, or alligator pear, 

 near Whittier, Cal. Its average revenue to the owner is $3,000 a year. 

 At one time it was insured in Lloyds for $30,000, but the company 



