NEWS AND PERSONAL NOTES 135 



season it is reported that not to exceed 50 per cent of the instruments 

 were successfully used. The longest distance reported across with sat- 

 isfactory communication was maintained was 16 miles. The con- 

 clusions are that the heliograph instruments have been sufficiently 

 successful to justify the expense of purchase and installation. Their 

 success depends very largely upon the interest of the particular oper- 

 ators who are obtainable and the training which they receive. This is 

 a very important field of training for students who expect to secure 

 employment during the summer with the Forest Service. A student 

 who is expert in handling the heliograph is more likely to obtain em- 

 ployment than those without this knowledge. 



One hundred of the new 2}^ pound portable telephones have been 

 used in District 1 with entire success. The chief difficulty in the opera- 

 tion of telephone lines in the mountains is the interference of static 

 electricity. During the hot, dry months this causes a pounding and 

 frying noise on the lines, so that it is very difficult to talk. Mr. R. 

 B. Adams expects to devote a considerable amount of time during the 

 coming season in co-operation with the Western Electric Company in 

 finding some instrument or other means to drain the lines of this 

 static electricity. 



The Federal holdings in the Appalachian and White Mountains 

 were lately increased by 66,880 acres, bringing the total area up to 

 1,396,367 acres, distributed about half and half for the two regions. 

 The new appropriation of three million dollars will be largely used to 

 acquire tracts which are needed to round off the present holdings into 

 solid blocks. 



Two very important problems were discussed at the Svth annual 

 meeting of the American Forestry Association at Washington, D. C, 

 on January 18 and 19, namely, the question of recreational uses of 

 National Parks and National Forests, and the problem of coping with 

 the white pine blister rust. The last question naturally led to a dis- 

 cussion of stopping importations' of tree and plant pests generally. 



The following resolutions were adopted : 



In view of the spread of disease and insect pests introduced from foreign 

 countries, such as the chestnut Might, gipsy moth, and white pine blister, it is 

 Resolved, That the American Forestry Association favor the principle of absolute 

 national quarantine on plants, trees, and nursery stock, to take effect at the 

 earliest date which may be found economically expedient. IVhcrcas, The pine 

 blister disease threatens to greatly injure the white pine forests of Eastern North 

 America, and is a growing danger to the white pine timber of the West, and 



