298 Forestry Quarterly 



ger Lake valleys and the valleys of most of the southward drain- 

 ing streams. Zone of Dominance of Sugar maple, Beech, Yellow 

 birch, Hemlock and White pine, a mixed forest, in which the 

 frostless period is from 130 to 150 days. This is the climax 

 type of the State, and it occupies the greater part of the area. 

 The under vegetation of the forest also reaches its climax here. 

 Canadian-Transition Zone. In general, the dominance is the same 

 as in the zone above, but there is a tendency, especially at the 

 higher elevations, towards the dominance of Red spruce, balsam, 

 Paper birch and Mountain ash. It is further characterized by the 

 usual absence of oak, hickory, elm, tulip and chestnut. The 

 herbaceous forms of the Appalachian region begin to drop out and 

 more northerly ranging species to come in. The growing period 

 is from 100 to 130 days. The zone is found in the Catskills from 

 about 2,000 feet to 3700 feet in elevation and in the Adirondacks 

 up to 3500 feet, more or less. Canadian Zone, characterized by 

 the dominance of Red spruce, balsam and Paper birch, and it 

 is found in the Adirondacks between 3500 feet and tree line. 

 Arctic Flora of the Adirondack Peaks. The distribution of these 

 zones is displayed on a map of the State. 



While this bulletin apparently belongs to a series of technical 

 publications, from his conversational style, the elaborateness of 

 his explanations and the reiteration of his point of view, it is 

 evident that the author has a "popular" audience mostly in mind. 

 As an educational medium one feels that the bulletin would have 

 better served its purpose to have been issued in at least three 

 distinct parts. It contains too much meat for the non-^:echnical 

 reader to digest and assimilate at one meal. Even in its present 

 condition its educational value would have been enhanced by a 

 conspicuous display of a summary of its contents. To the botanist 

 and ecologist, however, the enthusiasm of the author is contagious 

 and the bulletin is an inspiration. 



C. D. H. 



Timber Conditions in the Smoky River Valley and the Grand- 

 Prairie Country. By J. A. Doucet. Bulletin 53, Dominion For- 

 estry Branch. Ottawa, Canada. 1915. Pp. 55. 



