CURRENT LITERATURE. 
BOOK REVIEWS. 
Pennsylvania forestry." 
In these two volumes Dr. Rothrock, the efficient forestry commissioner of 
Pennsylvania, has embodied what may be considered almost a model method 
popular education on a little known subject. Notwithstanding the 
immense amount of money realized from lumbering in Pennsylvania, and 
despite the fact that the visible supply of raw material is but a moiety of 
what was considered an inexhaustible forest less than fifty years ago, the 
popular apathy regarding forest resources is almost as great in Pennsylvania 
as in the northwestern states. And yet it must be said that, while other 
states preceded her in formulating forestry legislation, Pennsylvania has 
approached the subject in a more business-like way, and is already in the 
font rank in the protection of forest interests. 
The report of 1895 embodies the work of a forestry commission appointed 
by act of legislature approved May 25, 1893. This commission consisted of 
a botanist (Dr. J. T. Rothrock) and an engineer (Mr. William F. Shunk), 
the latter confining his work to the watersheds of the state, and the influence 
of forests on stream-flow. Dr, Rothrock is responsible for much the greater 
part of the volume, and it would be difficult to have planned a report better 
calculated to stimulate popular interest in a failing resource, and to arouse 
ae opinion to the necessity of strong legislative measures for its protec- 
in ‘ nite “fy regretted that a book so admirable in its plan should be faulty 
'stics, but this may be pardoned in view of the brief time at the dis- 
ti ular onmmission. It appears that 36.29 per cent of the state area is 
embra r, but no indication is given of the value of this woodland, which 
hove ces both productive forest and what is practically waste land. Forest 
is Pte ee relation of forest to water supply are discussed, and an estimate 
of the re y nnnes of forest area and conditions. Much the greater part 
cial fore ip Is devoted to notes of a non-technical character on the commer- 
st species of the state. 
aie are especially noteworthy, and with their graphic titles 
extrava mselves the story of the evil effects of forest fires and the wasteful 
8ance of present methods of logging. It should be remembered that 
t 
Ponaies — of the Division of Forestry, Department of Agriculture, State of 
1898] 4, tor 1895, and for 1896. Harrisburg. 
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