notes and queries, i05 



Forest Fires in Canada. 



During the month of August last terrible conflagrations 

 occurred in the forests of British Columbia. In the Kootenay 

 district the fire, a mile wide, swept over the country consuming 

 all before it. Timber to the value of many millions of dollars 

 was destroyed, with many sawmills, while valuable timber 

 limits along Arrow Lake and near Creston were burnt. 



Japanese Oak. 



During the course of a case recently tried in the City of 

 London court, it was stated that Japanese oak, which has 

 been imported during the last three or four years, is not in- 

 creasing in favour, being less serviceable than European oak 

 owing to excessive shrinkage. 



Sir William Schlich, K.C.LE., F.R.S. 



All foresters, British and Indian, will join in hearty con- 

 gratulations to Sir William Schlich on his elevation to a 

 Knight Commandership of the Indian Empire. He is per- 

 sonally connected with Scotland, having been an Honorary 

 Member of our Society since 1889, and he is now Additional 

 Examiner in Forestry at the University of Edinburgh. 



The Japanese Larch versus the European Larch. 



On this estate (Gregynog) about 2 acres were planted with a 

 mixture of Common larch, Scots fir, and Douglas fir, and about 

 2 acres with Japanese larch, Scots fir, and Douglas fir. Rabbits 

 did enormous damage in the first four or five years, and the 

 plantation has been filled up many times. As the rabbits are not 

 so numerous now as formerly, it is hoped that the crop will 

 soon be properly established. The Japanese larches have 

 quite justified their introduction, for those that the rabbits left 

 (and they have been less touched by the rabbits than any 

 other species) are well grown, and at present are entirely free 

 from disease, while the European larches in the other half of 

 the plantation are badly attacked. The only other Japanese 

 larches on the estate are also free from disease. Judging from 



