602 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



features of the secondary wood. Sufficient 

 detail is given to make the subject clear 

 and comprehensive. This part of the text 

 contains practically all of the information 

 essential in the use of the key for indemni- 

 fication of woods. For further detail and 

 research the reader is directed by an ex- 

 tensive bibliography to other works on the 

 subject. 



A discussion of the physical properties 

 of wood comprises another one-third of the 

 text which together with the structural 

 qualities already mentioned constitutes 

 part I. Under the physical properties at- 

 tention is given to density, water content 

 shrinkage, hygroscopicity, penetrability, con- 

 ductivity, resonance, color, gloss or luster, 

 scent or odor, and taste, giving the relation 

 of these properties to the usefulness of 

 wood and to their adaptability to some ex- 

 tent as aids in identification. Where so 

 much is excellent as the detailed discussions 

 of the chapters above referred to, it may 

 seem ungracious to suggest possible improve- 

 ments ; and yet one can not but regret that 

 the author omitted under this part a general 

 consideration of the mechanical and chemi- 

 cal properties of wood, both of which are 

 very important in determining the usefulness 

 of wood. Flexibility, toughness, and cleav- 

 ability are features of invaluable assistance 

 in identification. Yet the book gives quite 

 as much as can be mastered by the student 

 of forestry in the time usually allotted to 

 the subject. As is almost unavoidable in 

 the first edition of a work of this kind, a 

 few omissions of words may be noted, 



and some typographical errors have crept in. 



Part II is a key specifically identifying al- 

 most 100 woods; others as the pines, firs 

 oaks, hickories, and poplars have not all 

 been separated into species because they do 

 not present sufficient apparent structural dif- 

 ferences. However, by knowing where a 

 piece of wood originated, the distribution 

 area indicated after each species, may help 

 in separating a species from a group. The 

 key is far more detailed and comprehensive 

 than any other yet devised for American 

 woods. It is upon this part of the book that 

 the author has spent his force, and in the 

 main he has accomplished a most admirable 

 task. The distinctions in the key are based 

 on gross features as far as is practicable, a 

 hand lens and a sharp knife constituting the 

 only equipment necessary to distinguish 

 most of the species. Quite often, however 

 the author found it necessary to add 

 microscopic features to distinguish two or 

 more closely resembling woods. The writer 

 has tried out the key on a large number of 

 woods, and found it clear and correct in 

 every case. 



Thirty excellent reproductions of photo- 

 micrographs of sections of native woods are 

 added as aids to the key. The illustrations 

 in the text are mostly diagrammatic draw- 

 ings, and they serve the purpose much better 

 than photographic reproductions. 



The many references cited by the author 

 show his broad range of study, and are a 

 wonderful time-saver to the student en- 

 gaged in further research. 



A. K. 



PRIZES FOR CANADIAN SEED GROWERS 



The Canadian Seed Growers' Association (address, Ottawa} gives notice that prises 

 in the form of cash and special trophies are offered for seed grown in the Province and* 

 exhibited at the next annual winter fair or Provincial Seed Exhibition. The date of this 

 exhibition will be made public later. 



MR. SEW ALL'S ACTIVITIES. 



Messrs. Kenneth M. Clark and James A. Conners, of the forestry staff of James W. 

 Sewall, Old Town, Maine, have gone into northern Maine to take charge of the mapping 1 , 

 surveying and exploring of a large tract of land for the Great Northern Paper Company. 

 Mr. Sewall is on a short trip in the upper Penobscot region of Maine, in the interests of 

 one of the timberland owners of that {State. Last year Mr. Sewall had charge of the com- 

 plete mapping, estimating and surveying of approximately 500,000 acres of land, in both 

 Canada and the United States. 



MacMILLAN INSPECTING. 



H. R. MacMillan, who was appointed to the position of Chief Forester for British 

 Columbia,. recently visited the Sooke, Goldstream and Cowichan district on Vancouver Island, 

 in order to see how the work of forest protection was progressing there. He was accom- 

 panied by Mr. H. K. Robinson, the chief of the surveys branch of the forestry department 

 Divisional Fire Warden Markland, and District Fire Warden Bittancourt 



