34 



THE FORESTER. 



December, 



diminished to an extraordinary degree by forest 

 cover, and that the roots of trees hold the soil 

 and debris in place. Also by affording mechan- 

 ical barrier in the form of a network of roots 

 and soft surface cover the rapidity of run-off is 

 hindered. A forest cover therefore has the least, 

 if any effect, on the amount of the run-off, a 

 much greater effect on the rapidity of the run- 

 off and the greatest effect as to the amount of 

 debris carried. 



The booklet is worthy of careful study on the 

 part of those interested in the effects of forests 

 on stream flow. 



The Bulletin of the Botanical Department, 

 Jamaica, for October contains an interesting 

 note in reference to Kola. Dr. P. Preuss, Di- 

 rector of the Botanical Gardens at Victoria, 

 German Cameroons, West Africa, says that the 

 species grown in Jamaica is Cola vera, which 

 yields a finer grade of nut than is produced in 

 West Africa. It would be well for Americans 

 who contemplate planting this tree in the trop- 

 ics to bear this in mind. For those not familiar 

 with Kola, I should add that it is extensively 

 cultivated for its seeds, which are used like 

 chocolate. It is used as a medicine, nutrient, 

 and stimulating beverage ; in fact, if it possesses 

 half the virtues claimed it is one of the most 

 wonderful of all vegetable productions. I should 

 add also that the production of many tropical 

 products, such as coffee and chocolate, belongs 

 more to forestry than to horticulture or agricul- 

 ture, because most of them require shade and 

 this shade is or ought always to be of some 

 species fit for timber or yielding other valuable 

 materials. Many of these tropical plants are 

 shade-demanders and grow better under forest 

 conditions than in open cultivated orchards or 

 groves. 



The U. S. Consular Report for October con- 

 tains three interesting communications on the 

 market for lumber in Germany, France and 

 Greece. 



The first is from the Consul at Lyons, France. 

 In this he says : " Only White Oak will find a 

 market in this part of France. Red Oak is ob- 

 jected to on account of its lack of uniformity in 

 tint and color. The wood must be first-class to 

 meet the demands of the market. It is not 

 worth while to attempt to export Poplar or any 

 soft white woods to France." He then quotes 

 a large proprietor whom he consulted on the 

 subject as follows : " A boy can plant 1,000 

 Poplars in a day along a brook, a river, or a 

 roadway. It costs nothing to grow them and 

 their roots add firmness to the earth. They 

 can be trimmed twice or three times in twenty 

 years, and at each trimming the branches bring 

 one franc (presumably per tree). The branches 

 are dried and sold to bakers. They furnish the 

 quick intense heat which gives the thick crust 

 to the brearl. There is always a market for 

 them. At the end of twenty years, the tree 

 will always sell for a franc." 



The Consul at Athens seems to think that ow- 

 ing to the scarcity of wood in Greece, timber of 

 various kinds might b; profitably exported to 

 that country. 



The Consul at Eibeustock, Germany, is of the 

 opinion that there is a great demand for hard- 

 woods in the log in Germany. He says "The 

 sawmills of the Empire can not get enough 

 hardwoad logs. The brush factories of Schon- 

 heide and the musical-instrument factories of 

 Klingerthal and Markneukirchen consume an- 

 nually great quantities of imported woods." 



The most interesting article in the Allge- 

 meine Forst and Jagd-Zeitung for November 

 relates to the forest conditions of Hungary. 

 The entire forest area of Hungary including 

 Kroatia-Slavonia is 9,074,121 hectares which is 

 2 7iVn P er cent, of the total area. The minister 

 of agricul'ure at Budapesth is the chief forest 

 official. The present forest government dates 

 from a general law of 1880. In the case of pri- 

 vate forests, not declared to be protection for- 

 ests, there exists the requirement to reforest land 

 which is suitable for nothing but forest growth. 



There is an academic training of three years 

 for foresters with a supplementary year for en- 

 gineering studies. Two years of practice are re- 

 quired and then a State examination in Buda- 

 pesth. One annual scholarship for foreign study 

 is granted to the most deserving aspirant. There 

 is al>o a tw<>-year course for training forest 

 guards. Only a limited number of sound, able- 

 bodied men are accepted in these schools which 

 are supported in part by the State. The lowest 

 salary for a forest guard is $140 per year the 

 highest for the Oberlandforstmeisterministerial- 

 rath is $2,100 a salary wholly incommensurate 

 with the length of his title. 



On absolute forest soils the State can compel 

 a private owner to reforest within six years after 

 clearing; otherwise he suffers a severe penalty. 

 Protection forests regardless of ownership must 

 be managed according to State prescriptions. 



Reforestation of desert places is furthered by 

 the State by furnishing young plants gratis and 

 by reducing taxes on such land. Large sums 

 are spent every year for water-regulation chiefly 

 in forestation for the prevention of floods. 



Our American Locust is highly esteemed in 

 Hungary, owing to its rapid growth. It is used 

 for fuel, vine props, and light construction. 



It is interesting to note that the government 

 regulations are based on the object of securing 

 a fixed proportion of surface covering and not of 

 mass amount. 



In Hungary, as in this country, the question 

 of pasture is a very important one. The author 

 contends that the bad condition of many forests 

 is due to excessive pasturing. The practice of 

 selling on the stump widely prevails even in 

 government forests which results naturally in 

 much destruction to the young growth. 



Many minor forest industries are extensively 

 developed in Hungary, especially the collection 

 of Oak-gall. These galls are produced by a fly 



