REVIEWS 1025 



the sandstones of the Vosges. Mathey gave an account, in the Septem- 

 ber 1909 number of the "Bulletin de la Societe forestiere de Franche- 

 Comte et Belfort," of tests made on the calcareous wastes of the Bur- 

 gundian Hills. Upon information furnished by Professor Schribaux, 

 of the National Institute of Agriculture, I myself carried on some ex- 

 periments in the Ermenonville State forest and in the swamps of 

 Bresles. 



But, it must be admitted, the results obtained up to the present time 

 are not very conclusive. In most of the tests, carried on principally in 

 nurseries, the various fertilizers have not been studied in a sufficiently 

 methodical manner to learn the effect of each one. 



The experiments of Lucien Chancerel have been carried on in a 

 more scientific manner. The author in his recent work, 'TAction des 

 Engrais sur les vegetaux ligneux," has given the results of his investi- 

 gations, with comments upon them. He has taken a great step in this 

 important question, and in so doing has rendered a great service to 

 science and to silviculture. 



Attached to the "Administration des Eaux et Forets," having proved 

 very advanced scientific studies, and having much leisure at his dis- 

 posal, Chancerel was perfectly qualified to undertake and carry to a 

 conclusion research work which demanded extensive knowledge, ex- 

 treme attention to the minutest details, and much time. 



After having demonstrated the importance of the question — above 

 all, at a time when reforestation is a subject of great interest — and 

 having shown its actual status in France, at least, for most of the ex- 

 periments made in foreign countries are not mentioned, those referred 

 to by me at the beginning of this article being ones of which I have 

 personal knowledge, the author enumerates the fertilizers to use andi 

 mentions those which were used in these experiments. They are : 

 Among the organic fertilizers, stable manure and dried blood ; among 

 the mineral fertilizers, nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia for the 

 nitrogeneous fertilizers ; superphosphate of lime, phosphate of lime, 

 and the scoria for the phosphate fertilizers ; sulphate, carbonate, and 

 chloride of potassium for the potash fertilizers ; sulphate of iron, and, 

 in addition, sulphate of manganese. 



Chancerel acquaints us with the action which took place when ex- 

 periments were carried on at the same time for the principal forest 

 plants, with seedlings, transplants, transplanting shoots, and cuttings, 

 in distilled water, artificial soil, and natural soil. 



The experiments in distilled water were carried on in wide-mouthed 

 glass vases covered with black paper. They were carried on with seed- 



