68 Forestry Quarterly. 



the detection is simple. Thus, in the case of copper or iron the 

 disk may be tested by merely dipping in potassium ferrocyanide, 

 and for mercury by dipping in hydrogen^ sulphide solution, the 

 compounds formed being respectively dark red, blue and black in 

 color. 



J. H. W. 



Scrub Pine (Pinus virginiana). By W. D. Sterrett. Bulletin 

 94, U. S. Forest Service. Washington, D. C. 191 1. Pp. 27. 



Scrub Pine has a natural range from Staten Island in New 

 York to Blount and Winston Counties in northern Alabama and 

 from the Atlantic coast to southern Indiana. It is not adapted 

 to a very sandy soil but thrives best on clay or loam or a sandy 

 loam. It will make fair growth on sterile soils where other 

 species can barely exist. Within its optimum range Scrub Pine 

 is very abundant, reproduces readily and prolifically, and in 

 several eastern States, especially in Maryland and Virginia it has 

 taken possession of many thousands of acres of idle fields. It 

 grows fairly rapidly in youth but the tree is short-lived and does 

 not reach large dimensions. 



It is seldom possible to cut clear lumber, or lumber fit for plan- 

 ing from Scrub Pine, since the wood is usually knotty and will 

 make only common and box grades of rough lumber. The prin- 

 cipal uses of the wood are fuel, pulp and charcoal. It can also 

 be employed for railroad ties if properly creosoted. 



Scrub Pine may be considered desirable for forest management 

 on lands of little value for agriculture and not adapted to tree 

 growth of more valuable kinds. Wherever associated with 

 Shortleaf or with White Pine it tends to replace them in the 

 second growth after lumbering. In such cases it is advisable to 

 eradicate the Scrub Pine by cutting out all of the trees of the 

 species which are bearing or are likely soon to bear seed, and by 

 leaving seed trees of the more desirable kinds to restock the cut- 

 over area. 



To obtain a sustained annual yield in pure Scrub Pine forests 

 is comparatively easy. A short rotation of 30 to 40 years is 

 silviculturally and financially preferable to a long one. The trees 

 should be grown in dense stands since Scrub Pine is inferior to 



