SOCIETY AFFAIRS 159 



"Seeding Habits as a Factor in Competition Between Spruce 

 and Balsam Fir," by Louis S. Alurphy, Forestry Service. 

 Read by S. T. Dana. 

 "Coniferous Reproduction in New England," by Barrington 



Moore. Read in person. 

 "Soil Temperatures as a Factor in Forestry," by Raphael Zon. 



read in person. 

 "The Effect of Natural and Artificial Shade on Soil Tempera- 

 tures at Different Depths," by Geo. P. Burns, University of 

 Vermont. Read in person. 

 "Some Forest Problems in Light," by Raphael Zon. Read in 



person. 



"The Role of Light in Natural and Artificial Reforestation," 



by Carlos G. Bates. Owing to a crowded program this paper 



was replaced by a few remarks supplementing Mr. Zon's 



paper. 



On Friday evening, a smoker for foresters was given at the Yale 



Club, at which again nearly fifty foresters listened to an historical 



sketch of the development of forestry in the United States, given by 



Dr. Fernow, whose active participation in every phase of the movement 



is well known. As is customary in Dr. Fernow's writings, neither 



credit nor criticism was withheld in this instance, but the discussion 



had the requisite quality of fairness and broadness which distinguishes 



history from propagandism and politics. Following this warmly 



received paper, all formality was set aside and the evening was spent 



sociably. 



It is doubtful whether any meeting of the Society of American 

 Foresters during the last eight or ten years has brought together so 

 many professional foresters engaged in different lines of endeavor, 

 and so many who have distinguished themselves, both in teaching and 

 in practice. The stimulus to each individual, from the personal con- 

 tact and the interchange of views on forestry problems, cannot fail 

 to be of immense benefit. The value to the profession and to the 

 Society of this meeting, in conjunction with the longer-established 

 scientific bodies of the country, can hardly be overemphasized. It 

 must inevitably represent a distinct step forward. As forestry has 

 already established its position as an economic necessity and an integral 

 part of the Government activity for the benefit of all the people, so 

 now we may consider that the most important, if not the first, step 

 has been taken to give a scientific tone to the work, to obtain for 



