SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— K*. L. 395 



zones are now denuded of trees in many parts. The woody vegetation, floristically 

 and ecologically, can be subdivided into three main types ! Mediterranean, transitional 

 and Central European, and all of these show very clear altitudinal zonation. Climatic 

 factors are of greater importance than edaphic in limiting the distribution of the 

 various communities. Within the Mediterranean domain the most important com- 

 munities are those of Pinus halepensis, P. pinea, oaks, laurels, Platanus orientalis, 

 Cupressus semper vir ens, Abies cephalonica, Taxus baccata, beech, and Pinus nigra. 

 In the transitional areas manna-ash, oak woods, the Strandja woods, limited com- 

 munities of Aesculus hippocastanum and Ostrya-Fagus orientalis forest can be distin- 

 guished. Within the Central European domain the important forest communities 

 are the oak woods, chestnut woods, Pinus nigra association, the omorika association, 

 fir and spruce association, and beech association. The composition and successional 

 stages of these are of considerable interest when compared with corresponding features 

 in better-known parts of Europe. The causes of the replacement of forests by various 

 types of brushwood-macchie, pseudomacchie, phrygana and shibljak and the final 

 degeneration to poor grassland or stony ground with a meagre open vegetation are 

 nearly all connected with man. 



Tuesday, September 6. 



Mr. Wm. Raitt. — Paper Pulp from Bamboo. 



Mr. S. K. Mtjkerji. — The Forests of Kashmir. 



This paper, illustrated by lantern slides, embodies the results of extensive 

 ecological study of the Forest Communities of Kashmir up to an elevation of 14,000 

 feet. It deals with the geological, climatic, physiographic, edaphic, and biotic factors 

 of the region. 



Types of Forests : — 



Winter Deciduous Forests : Populus, Aesculus, Acers, Fraxinus, Ulmus, and 

 Betula. 



Coniferous Forests : Pinus excelsa, Cedrus Deodara, Cupressus torulosa, Taxus 

 baccata, Picea morinda, Abies Pindrow and A. Webbiana. 



Undergrowth of forests and their ground flora. Succession of Forest Communities. 

 Striking absence of ' Oak-belt ' in Kashmir Himalayas. Limestone rocks in relation 

 to occurrence of special types of Forest Communities. Natural Regeneration of some 

 valuable timber trees. Brushwood of Parrotia Jacquemontiana in relation to 

 Regeneration of Deodar and Blue-pine. Effect of grasses on seedling regeneration 

 and afforestation. Exploitation of Forests in Kashmir. Preservation of Forests — 

 ' The Rakhs.' Some useful Forest produce of Kashmir. 



Vast field for developing scientific farming of important indigenous medicinal 

 and economic plants. Edible mushrooms and morchellas. 



Suitable field for extensive cultivation of species of Populus for wood-pulp. 



SECTION L.-EDUCATION. 



(For references to the publication elsewhere of communications entered in the 

 following list of transactions, see p. 435.) 



Thursday, September 1. 

 Joint Discussion with Section J on Psychology of Special Scholastic 

 Disabilities. 

 Miss G. Hume, Miss Wheeler, Miss McAllister. (See p. 372.) 



Overseas Training Committee. Paper by Commissioner D. C. Lamb 



cm Importance and Value to the Empire of the Transplantation of 

 Boys, d-c. (See p. 309.) 



