REVIEWS 1019 



area has been burned over one or more times during the past 40 years, 

 giving rise to brush lands or "maquis." Not exactly a picture of well- 

 preserved forest wealth! And in spite of the expensive system of fire 

 lines extensive damage from fires continues. 



As in Tunisia, the cork oak, which furnished three-quarters of the 

 State forest income of $740,000, with a few other evergreen oaks and 

 the Aleppo pine, are the two most important species, and the pine is 

 also most widely distributed. Cedar and juniper and maritime pine, of 

 conifers, and a number of hardwoods occur. It is rather misleading 

 to apply the term selection system to the cork-oak orchard management, 

 which, to be sure, is based on a diameter limit below which the peeling 

 is not profitable, but the cork is peeled four to six times before trees 

 lose their producing capacity and are then cut for tannin and fuel. 



The Aleppo pine, which sometimes occurs in pure stand, is experi- 

 mentally tapped for resin. It seems that such turpentine forest is to 

 be regenerated by shelterwood (not selection) method. A seed-tree 

 method in groups is used with other species and coppicing in fuel oak 

 woods. A special method, culee noire, is applied in overmature stands, 

 when the stump is removed down to a depth of 20 to 24 inches, freeing 

 large roots which produce vigorous shoots and suckers. 



Working plans, it is stated, have so far not been necessary, but the 

 outlines of usual plans are given, which are similar to the European; 

 to call the records of administration, as is done on page 72, an "admi- 

 rable substitute for the formal European working plan" is, to be sure, 

 mixing up plan and its results. 



Planting, or rather sowing, is done only where there is not the slight- 

 est chance for natural reproduction. Although there is a chief of re- 

 forestation, he acts only as an adviser and his views of the best method 

 he has no power to enforce ; hence considerable variation in practice is 

 found. The planting is done in winter, after the rains have commenced ; 

 sowing in seed spots or furrows is preferred, but is only successful 

 when thorough preparation of the soil is made, the difficulty in shipping 

 plant material and probably of growing it being the main objection to 

 planting, except with ball where necessary. As arid and difficult sites 

 are involved, the author considers the study of methods here employed 

 valuable to our foresters. But are the climates of the same character? 



A lengthy discussion on fire lines leads the author to conclude that 

 they are necessary ; but well cleared narroiij lines are more practical 

 than expensive zvide lines. 



Since "local conditions are in many respects similar to the western 

 United States," ( ?) the entire Algerian forest code is translated, occu- 

 pying 60 pages. 



