NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES IN HUNGARY.* 

 By Karl Petraschek. 



In reference to the success of the American trees cultivated in 

 Hungary last spring, reports have not yet come in. But in regard 

 to a certain quantity of seed of the Piniis ponderosa, var, scopu- 

 lorum, and Pinus lambertiana, which was planted in the nursery 

 at Grehenz in the shifting sand desert of Doliblat in southeastern 

 Hungary, I was able in the latter part of September to personally 

 establish the success of this experiment. Although Europe, as 

 is well known, has been subject the past year to extreme heat and 

 drought, and damages were naturally more frequent in the Hun- 

 garian steppes, all the seed of the Pinus ponderosa, var. scopu- 

 lorum, sprouted, and the greater part of the Pinus lambertiana, 

 while the young plants, especially of the first-named species, 

 showed, at the time I alluded to, a strong and healthy develop- 

 ment. 



It might be of interest to you to learn that in the aflForestation 

 of the desert of the shifting sands of Doliblat, and also in the 

 sandy plains of Hungary, the principal part was accomplished not 

 by the aboriginal species, but by a North American species, 

 namely, the Robinia pseudacacia. But the Robinia only flourished 

 on the sandy portions rich in nourishment. On very fine flour 

 like sand and alkali soil the Robinia is a failure. On sandy tracts 

 which constantly, or at least for a long time, have a high water 

 table, the Robinia ceases to develop as soon as its roots reach the 

 water. Besides Robinia, the Canadian and Silver Poplar have 

 been naturalized on these sandy tracts of Hungary. The American 

 Ash also flourishes better on damp soil than the native species. 

 In Doliblat, experiments have been made with other North 

 American broadleaf species and conifers, but of all the diflFerent 

 species, only Juniperus virginiana can be noted as worthy of culti- 

 vation, for the reason that like Pinus austriaca, this juniper 

 develops well on the firmer portions of these shifting sands (the 

 hollows). The seed of Juniperus virginiana underwent the fol- 



*Extract from letter to Mr. Zon, Chief of Silvics, U. S. Forest Service. 

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