Current Literature. 113 



tiire added. Like its predecessors, it deals mainly with European 

 conditions and species, except for the addition of notes on some 

 American species. 



In the systematic manner of presentation it reminds us of 

 Heyer and Hess. It lacks the philosophic flavor of Gayer, and 

 the freedom of discussion which characterizes the newer German 

 works of Wagner and Mayr. But, for this very reason, as a 

 manual for class use, it is superior, for it is brief and succinct 

 and gives sufficient latitude for a teacher to expand. 



It is of interest to note that Douglas Fir is found in England 

 not to be windfirm, the wet weather occurring with heavy winds 

 being assigned as cause. The statement that the species requires 

 a moist climate and deep fertile fresh or moist soil, is due to lack 

 of distinction between localities of derivation, for we know its 

 thriftiness in the dry regions of its field of distribution. As re- 

 gards difiference in behavior of the green and blue form as regards 

 resistance to frost, it is said, that experience so far obtained is 

 somewhat contradictory. It should not be, if careful tab is had 

 as regards locality of derivation ! 



Although in one place the author states that this tree, as far 

 as experience goes at present, outgrows all European timber trees, 

 and reports on a special plantation of 48 years' standing, which 

 produced at the rate of 134 cubic feet per acre, he later doubts 

 whether in the long run it would do better than the European 

 Silver Fir. We have doubts on this, although the author is 

 correct in assuming that the early rate of growth does not con- 

 tinue. Indeed, in British Columbia, which may be compared with 

 western England as to climate, after 75 to 100 years the rate be- 

 comes ordinary rather suddenly, say 7 years to the inch, when it 

 was 3 to 4 years to the inch before. Thuya plicata, Tsuga alber- 

 tiana (our heterophylla) and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, besides 

 Pinus strohus, and P. divaricata, come in for notes. The superior 

 value of our White Pine — its remarkable staying powers and 

 low shrinkage per cent. — is evidently not yet di'^covered in Eng- 

 land, since its wood is compared to that of spruce. 



A number of additional illustrations and diagrams to illustrate 

 silvicultural methods (one, the well-known "Hacker's" trans- 

 planting machine, being twice labeled "Hackel") add to the value 

 of the book. 



8 



