2 5 2 



THE FORESTER. 



October, 





frost-hardy and frost-tender in the same climate 

 according as the frost is early or late. Nature's 

 method of protection is not the cultivation of 

 frost-hardiness but the provision of conditions 

 under which sensitive plants can thrive, for in- 

 stance by covering bare places with pioneer 

 frost-hardy species such as Birch and Poplar. 

 The best seed to use is that collected in your 

 own neighborhood. Do not, says Prof. Mayr, 

 expect any advantages from the usually much 

 more expensive seed of northern regions, and 

 do not fear the results from the use of the 

 cheaper seed from warmer places. 



Prof. Mayr is loud in his praises of the fa- 

 mous Pines of Riga with their straight boles and 

 excellent wood. These plantations have been 

 well established for years, giving rise to the va- 

 riety "rigensis" of Finns sylvestris. How- 

 ever, the author says, it is only shipped from 

 Riga and that the wood really grows in the 

 Southeast, where the Scotch Pine reaches its 

 optimum. For years Riga Pine seed has been 

 used in Germany with the hope of securing sim- 

 ilar qualities. Dr. Mayr has long maintained 

 that such qualities are not transmissible. 



Prof. Mayr took a long zigzag trip with Max 

 v. Severs. President of the Baltic Forestry So- 

 ciety, to investigate this Pine. He found won- 

 derful stands of Scotch Pine superior to any in 

 Germany. This superiority, he says, is due to 

 the virgin soil to the rich deposit of humus. 

 Another cause is the atmospheric dampness. 

 Dampness favors natural regeneration, which is 

 impossible in southwestern Germany. This is 

 easier in east Prussia, and so plentiful in Li- 

 vonia and Fiunland that the tree is considered 

 aggressive toward other species. Natural re- 

 generation tends toward the formation of fine 

 straight boles in that disease and accident are 

 less frequent. He reaches the same conclusion 

 in reference to Scotch Pine seed that he did 

 of Spruce. 



Professor Mayr next considers the Larch. To- 

 day, he says, we know the qualities of this tree 

 against which our forefathers sinned they are 

 its demands as to rich soil, its non-shade-endur- 

 ing quality, and its need of side room for crown 

 and branches. All over Europe there are Larcli 

 plantations that are little more than tree hospi- 

 tals in which insects and fungi propogate. No 

 one now thinks of planting the European Larch. 

 The Siberian Larch takes its place the true Si- 

 berian Larcli (Larix Sibenca). Dr. Mayr con- 

 siders that this is a distinct species and not a 

 mere variety. A very remarkable stand of this 

 Larch exists between the Gulf of Finnland and 

 Lake Ladoga. It is in a damp peninsula only a 

 few feet above sea level. It ranks with the 

 Maritime Pine of southwestern France and with 

 the Silver Fir of Prinz Inn u. Knyphausen of 

 Friesland as one of the oldest and most 

 noteworthy forest stretches of Europe. In the 

 growing of the Siberian Larch, he says, don't 

 plant it in sunny warm nurseries. Here it will 

 freeze because it will bud too soon ! 



Dr. Mayr then considers the treatment of 



moorland, and then forest protection. In Rus- 

 sia proper the condition is similar to that of 

 North America with large burnt areas and 

 carelessness about fire. In the Baltic Provinces 

 it is quite otherwise. The method of combat- 

 ting fire is not by fire lanes, but by a system of 

 overseers or guards called " buschwachter," 

 and of fire signalling. These bushwatchers 

 have forest-farms here and there which are con- 

 nected by telephone. The telephone has reached 

 startling development, and in the treatment of 

 fire its use results in an enormous saving of time 

 and paper by paper being meant the flood of 

 reports and questions. Fire-alarm boxes are 

 placed along the highways. 



As to forest utilization and export, Dr. Mayr 

 claims that Russia with her many waterways, 

 with a few new canals, can supply immense 

 quantities of wood to the rest of Europe for 

 some time to come. 



There is one forestry school in Finnland at 

 Evo fifty kilometers from the nearest railroad 

 where the students and instructors lead a 

 lonely life. The plan to have two years of the 

 course at the University of Helsingfors and two 

 years of practice at Evo, is however, being con- 

 sidered. 



Russia herself has only one forestry institute 

 (Lesnoj Institute) near St. Petersburg. It has 

 400 students. The government is planning an- 

 other for Southern Russia. Dr. Mayr returned 

 to Germany very favorably impressed and sur- 

 prised, especially with the fact that the State 

 alone owns, exclusive of the Caucasus, land 

 more or less wooded which is more than twice 

 the size of the German Empire ! 



In the latest "Bulletin Trimestrial de laSoci- 

 ete Forestiere Fran^ais des Amis des Arbres" 

 there is contained an interesting note in refer- 

 ence to a new Poplar which has been recently 

 discovered in southern Algeria. It is Pop- 

 ulns Eaphratica and was first found by G. A. 

 Olivier in Persia. It is remarkable in that it 

 has two sorts of leaves entirel} 7 different in 

 form. It is being tested in the extreme south 

 of Algeria as its ability to endure heat and 

 its dense shade render it extremely useful. The 

 results thus far are satisfactory. Why not try it 

 on our western plains ? 



According to this interesting little journal 

 truffle-culture should be encouraged wherever 

 the truffle Oak will grow. One hectare of land 

 produces annually 3,000 francs. These Oaks 

 should be planted on otherwise useless ground, 

 preferably limestone regions, 1,500 trees to the 

 hectare. 



A company has been organized in the Po 

 Delta to manufacture willow tresses for hats. 

 These are thin strips of the rods of Sali.v alba. 

 These hats are as glossy as silk and were very 

 fashionable in Paris in 1830. 



A new book entitled " Le Paturage en Foret," 

 by Alphonse Mathey ( 172 p., 19 tables) is highly 

 recommended by the Swiss Journal of Forestry. 



