252 Forestry Quarterly. 



specific regarding preventive measures would be valuable while 

 from the evidence submitted regarding the limited fire season 

 in New England some more encouragement about the comparative 

 ease of controlling fires might be presented. There is little doubt 

 that except in the infrequent years when the normal rainfall is 

 lacking the forest fire hazard is not so serious as it is in other 

 parts of the Country. To the statement made on page 57 that 

 "beech is a good fire resister" an emphatic dissent must be re- 

 corded. 



The chapter on timber estimating and valuation is another of 

 great practical utility, as is also that on the growth of trees and 

 forests. 



Readers of the Quarterly will find much in the first part of this 

 book of value for occasional reference. It may be suggested 

 that this value would have been heightened by more frequent 

 paragraphs, headings, or marginal indexes. The good general 

 index is not enough. 



Part II deals specifically with New England forests and their 

 management. Unfortunately this part even more than Part I 

 is written in the narrative form rather than in a way to serve 

 for readiest reference. It also frequently repeats the substance 

 of what has already been presented. 



Accepting these features as minor faults the section contains 

 much definite information regarding the original condition of the 

 forests, the extent to which they have degenerated, and a detailed 

 discusssion of the various regions by forest types. Especially to 

 be commended are the facts given relative to the present prices 

 of stumpage, of milling, and of lumber, the cost of planting 

 and the expected returns from plantations. This is the kind 

 of information that is wanted. In this connection it may be 

 observed that the cost of planting in New England is approxi- 

 mately the same as in European countries, and that recorded 

 yields of New England forests when fairly managed compare 

 favorably with those in Europe to which reference is so often 

 made. On the other hand the authors appear to have accepted 

 without question the oft repeated claims that solely as a result 

 of intensive management the State forests of Europe have greatly 

 increased their yield, (pp. 412, 413). No doubt a large part 

 of the increase is due to management. It remains however that 



