April 24, 1908] 



SCIENCE 



679 



The length of treatment has varied, in the 

 different tests, from eight to ten hours and 

 the steam pressure from 60 to 75 pounds. 

 These pressures correspond to maximum tem- 

 peratures of 153° to 160° C. The pulp pro- 

 duced in these experiments is from nearly 

 •white to light brown in color, according to the 

 variations in the method of cooking, and by 

 selecting the proper conditions of treatment 

 it would be readily possible to produce a grade 

 of fiber which could be used in many kinds of 

 paper without the least bleaching. If, how- 

 ever, it is desired to employ the fiber for white 

 book or writing papers it could be readily 

 bleached to a good \/hite color. It is claimed 

 that, so far as the product is concerned, the 

 manufacture of fiber from white fir would be 

 a commercial success and that the fiber pro- 

 duced would find its greatest usefulness in the 

 production of manilas, where great strength is 

 required, and in tissues which need very long 

 fibers. It seems probable, also, that it would 

 make very good newspaper, for which purpose 

 its naturally light color would particularly 

 adapt it. 



According to the Pacific Commercial Ad- 

 vertiser, as quoted in the Geographical Jour- 

 nal, a body known as the Pacific Scientific 

 Institution has been successfully organized, 

 with a view to undertaking a complete scien- 

 tific exploration of the Pacific ocean and its 

 many islands. While the chief energies of 

 the institution will be devoted to ethnology, 

 the geology and configuration of the region 

 will also be investigated, and studies in 

 zoology and botany will be carried out, as also 

 of winds and ocean currents with a view to 

 throwing light on the distribution of animals, 

 plants, and of the human race. Expeditions 

 are to be despatched in a specially equipped 

 vessel, and it is anticipated that fifteen years 

 may be needed for the work. The moving 

 spirit in the organization of the project is said 

 to be Mr. W. A. Bryan. 



The London Times reports that the depart- 

 mental committee of the Irish Board of Agri- 

 culture appointed to inquire into the best 

 means of promoting the reafforestation of Ire- 

 land have concluded their labors and that their 



report will be laid upon the table of the 

 house in the course of a few days. It is ex- 

 pected that the report will recommend that 

 the crown quit rents in Ireland, which yield 

 something like £60,000 a year, shall be applied 

 to the purpose of Irish reafforestation. The 

 report, it is understood, suggests that the work 

 should be carried out under the Wyndham 

 Land Purchase Act of 1902 through the me- 

 dium of the county councils of Ireland. Al- 

 ready the estates commissioners have acquired 

 two large forests in Ireland for this purpose, 

 one in county Wicklow and another, the 

 Montalt Estate, in county Tipperary. The 

 estates commissioners will manage these 

 forests, preserve the timber, and plant trees 

 where necessary, engaging a staff of foresters 

 for the purpose. 



Trees from the United States, Europe and 

 Australia are being systematically introduced 

 into the native forests of New Zealand. In 

 the climate of that country trees from almost 

 anywhere will thrive, and this fact is taken 

 advantage of to plant the most profitable 

 species. Eleven million larches, oaks, spruces, 

 Douglas firs and Eucalypts have been set in 

 plantations, and vast numb«rs of seedlings are 

 coming on in nurseries. These are rapidly 

 growing species which also make excellent 

 timber. The reason given for introducing 

 foreign trees is that the native trees of New 

 Zealand are too slow in growth. Some of 

 them, as the kauri pine, grow to gigantic size 

 and produce excellent timber, but it takes 

 from 200 years up. Successful forestry de- 

 mands quicker returns. More rapid changes 

 in animal and vegetable life are taking place 

 in New Zealand than almost anywhere else in 

 the world. The native Polynesian race is 

 rapidly disappearing before the European. 

 The wild animals, native to the islands, 

 amount to little in the contest with animals 

 brought in, many of which now run wild. 

 The streams are full of American and Euro- 

 pean trout, which grow to enormous size. The 

 very forests are to be replaced, tree by tree, 

 by planting foreign species as the native woods 

 disappear. New Zealand has one million two 

 hundred thousand acres of forest, with two 



