Current Literature. 697 



The Economic Possibilities of the Mangrove Swamps of the 

 Philippines. By Raymond F. Bacon and Vicente Q. Gana, 

 (From the Chemical Laboratory, Bureau of Science, Manila, 

 P. I.) The Philippine Journal of Science, Vol. IV, No. 3, 1909. 



In an interesting scientific article the writers call attention to 

 the fact that the supply of native tanning materials in leather pro- 

 ducing countries is so far exhausted that they are looking else- 

 where for a supply. Such a supply the writers state, is at present 

 available in the Philippines. 



Although, up to the present time, no mangrove bark has been 

 exported from the Philippines, there are large areas of mangrove 

 forests containing a sufficient quantity of bark to supply several 

 cutch factories. It is as cutch, the authors believe, that the 

 material can most profitably be handled. 



Several tables are given showing the composition of tan barks 

 of diflFerent species from different localities and comparing these 

 with analyses from other regions. The Philippine tan barks of 

 the best species contain from 20 to 25 per cent, of tannin which 

 compares favorably with Borneo barks of the same species in 

 which commercial cutch factories are now in operation. These 

 tan barks are secured from several species of Rhisophora, Bru^ 

 guiera, and Ceriops. 



M. L. M. 



The Forests of the Philippines. Part I. Forest Types and 

 Products. Part II. The Principal Forest Trees. By H. N. 

 Whitford, Ph. D., Forester, Chief of Division of Investigation, 

 Department of the Interior, Bureau of Forestry. Bulletin No. 

 10. Manila, Bureau of Printing, 191 1. Part i, 94 pp. illust, 

 map. Part 11. 113 pp. illust. 



"The object of this bulletin is to bring together the most im- 

 portant facts concerning the forests of the Philippines and the 

 exploitation of their products." The chief idea in Part I appears 

 to be to furnish information that will be of interest to prospective 

 forest exploiters. 



A detailed description of the character of the vegetation on each 

 of these areas is followed by a discussion of the climate; topo- 



