News and Notes. 125 



A forester in the private field writes pertinently to us: 



We are all overwhelmed with volume tables ; but it is hard to 

 get the figures on which they are based. For the rule applied as 

 scale each table may be fit : but when one table is given in terms 

 of the Scribner, and results are wanted by the Doyle rule, you 

 know the unsatisfactory figures obtained by comparisons. Now 

 what would be of much value to all of us poor devils who are 

 working in the field would be the publication of actual stem or 

 tree analyses — the real figures, from which the tables are made 

 up. Then we could apply any rule needed — and not have to 

 puzzle and check as we now often do. Why could not the gov- 

 ernment publish their figures — a sort of big data handbook? 



The following definitions lately submitted to the Editor meet 

 entirely his own conception of some cornmonplace terms : 



"There seems to be some confusion among foresters in the 

 proper definition of "step" and "pace." I am accustomed to con- 

 sider a "pace" as the distance covered in walking while the same 

 foot is placed to the ground. The distance covered in placing the 

 feet alternately on the ground I consider a "step." Thus two 

 steps make one "pace." I also consider a step and a pace as the 

 distance covered without special effort in walking, while an extra 

 long step made with an effort to cover as much ground as pos- 

 sible, or a greater distance than a natural gaited step, I consider 

 a "stride." 



To show how ''attitude" influences definitions we may refer 

 to decisions of courts in Germany in cases of trespass in hunt- 

 ing, where size of the area and the ability of the hunter to hide 

 seem to be necessary characteristics. Cut-off forests (Wald) 

 are not forests (Wald). Similarly an area covered with low 

 growth is no forest (Wald). 



Divorce of forest fire organizations from politics, efficient for- 

 est patrolmen and co-operation between the State and private 

 fire-fighting associations formed between timber owners and 

 lumbermen, were the slogans of those who attended the second 

 annual meeting of the Lake States Forest Fire Conference,' held 

 at Lansing, Michigan, January 21 and 22. 



The legislative committee also recommended: 



"Absolute divorce between game and forest departments. 

 Work of forest protection and administration placed in hands of 

 competent and non-partisan board. Appointment by board or 



