notes and queries. h3 



The Forests of the British East Africa Protectorate. 



A Blue-book of 143 pages, with map and 25 photographs, 

 contains a report on the forests of the Protectorate, by Mr D. E. 

 Hutchins, who had been deputed to visit them. The Govern- 

 ment timber- forests comprise an area of 2,040,269 acres, and 

 there are in addition 105,406 acres of private forest which " is 

 being rapidly destroyed and need not be considered unless 

 early measures are taken to redeem it." The author deals at 

 length with the yield of the forests ; with fires which have done 

 enormous damage and against which effective measures must be 

 taken ; with the alienation of forest land which should be kept 

 permanently as part of the State domain ; with the destruction of 

 forests by temporary cultivation ; with the resources in rubber ; 

 with game in the forests; and with the organisation of the 

 Forest Department, which last may be studied with advantage 

 by candidates for employment in it. There are full and very 

 interesting chapters dealing with the Uganda Railway forests. 

 In appendices, the author gives a dissertation on trees suitable 

 for cultivation in equatorial Highlands, with special reference to 

 the conifers indigenous to Mexico and Central America, and 

 with a descriptive list of foreign trees suitable for the Highland 

 forests of British East Africa. 



The report, which has involved very arduous work, both in 

 the field and at the table, reflects much credit on its author. 



The Forests of the Central Vosges Mountains. 



In a recent issue of Engler's Botanische Jahrbilcher, Dr E. 

 Issler gives some account of the plant formations of the Central 

 Vosges. In the montane region he distinguishes the following 

 formations : — spruce, beech, mixed fir woods, and the vegetation 

 of forest streams. The upper tree limit occurs at the low 

 altitude of 4000 feet, as compared with above 7000 feet in 

 Switzerland. This limit is determined by the wind, and it is a 

 remarkable fact that in many places the beech woods ascend 

 higher than the coniferous woods, the reason being that the 

 beech is better able to withstand the action of the wind. 



VOL. XXIII. PART I. 



