News and Notes 777 



whether it was a tree of promise or of matured growth, if there 

 was a dollar in it I wanted it quick regardless of the damage to 

 small trees. I now note if they are needlessly injured or destroyed 

 I experience a feeling of pity and compassion. 



I have never practised tree planting, but feel certain from 

 observing the results of others it will pay if an opportune time is 

 taken when there is a surplus of labor. I expect to work along 

 this line soon." 



Professor Retan furnishes the following data on an improve- 

 ment cutting on the Mont Alto Forest (Pennsylvania) : 



In the summer of 1908 an improvement cutting was made over 

 the Oak Knob Compartment, comprising 30 acres of a mixed 

 coppice stand of chestnut. Rock, oak. Red maple, locust, and 

 inferior hardwoods. A careful calipering of the entire stand 

 before cutting gave the following as the composition and volume 

 of the stand : 



Chestnut 



Rock Oak. . . . 

 Other species. 



The stand was 62 years old, 70 to 80 feet high, and had a sec- 

 tional area of 87.5 square feet per acre. The improvement 

 cutting was carried out under the direction of L. E, Staley, For- 

 ester, the marking being done by the Mensuration class of the 

 Pennsylvania State Forest Academy. All crooked, diseased, and 

 poor trees of valuable species were marked, and as many stems 

 of other species as was possible without too great interruption of 

 the canopy. The cutting yielded : 



264.5 cords of wood valued at $506.74 



68 telephone poles " " 137.50 



137 locust posts at 10-30 cents " " 42.91 



Total $687.15 



or $22.90 per acre gross; net about $10 per acre. 



In 1915, the stand was again measured by the Mensuration 

 class of the Academy and showed the following composition: 



