Current Literature. 403 



this volume table is based would lead us too far. He has pub- 

 lished several long articles on the subject, which are extremely 

 technical. H. C. W. 



The Forests of Prince George's County. By F. W. Besley. 

 Maryland State Board of Forestry. 1913. Pp. 40. Illustrations 

 and Map. 



This is the kind of work that every State Forester should do 

 for his own State, namely a detail description and map of the 

 forest conditions of his State, county by county, until the whole 

 State is described and mapped. Only when such definite knowl- 

 edge exists can definite plans be formulated for treating the sit- 

 uation. The author, State Forester of Maryland, has here chosen 

 a county which is for the most part in farmers' woodlots, and it 

 is of special interest as it surrounds the District of Columbia. 



Three types of forest are recognized : the mixed hardwood 

 type, with a remarkable variety of species (not less than 63, and 

 at least 45 of them of commercial value), upland and lowland, 

 occupying 72 per cent, of the Woodlands ; the pure pine type made 

 up by the native Scrub Pine (P. znrginiana), occupying 18 per 

 cent, covering the poor lands, and continuously extending its 

 reign over abandoned fields and misused woodlands ; and the 

 hardwood-pine type, a hardwood forest into which the Scrub Pine 

 has crept in in individuals in the proportion of 12 f)er cent. 



Oaks, some 14 species, form the main portion in the composi- 

 tion. A number of tables give the detail of composition. An 

 estimate of the merchantable material to be found on the 127,000 

 acres makes the saw-timber around 108,000,000 feet B.M., or 

 only 1400 feet per acre average, the original woods of which, 

 still 4552 acres, are reported cutting somewhat over 3600 feet. 

 In addition, there are 275,000 cords of Scrub Pine, fit for pulp- 

 wood, for which it is increasingly used, making satisfactory sizes 

 in 35 years, growing at the rate of one cord per acre per year. 

 With a reasonable stumpage value ($4.00 per M feet and cord- 

 wood at 75 cents), the total forest value is placed at $550,000, 

 while the value of the cut for 191 2, at points of shipment, is placed 

 at $162,870, consisting of lumber, staves, shingles, railroad ties, 

 pulp wood, cord wood, poles, piles, mine props, fence posts, and 

 some export timber. 



