A fresh surface produced by the cut from an axe is of a different 

 character from that produced by a saw. In the former the constituent 

 wood fibres are cut more longitudinally than transversely, and do not 

 display rugged edges, and hence, in general, are darker coloured. 



I see no reason whatever why, as Messrs. George & Branday assert, 

 true logwood should be denounced as bastard logwood solely from the 

 appearance of the freshly sawn ends. It is reasonable to suppose that 

 the character of the block as a whole would be taken into account ; if 

 this be not so, then it seems advisable before offering for sale to have 

 the fresh surfaces exposed for some time to atmospheric influence in 

 order to darken them. 



1 find that all the planters I have consulted upon the matter are ac- 

 quainted with the fact that bast.rd logwood trees occur in a greater or 

 less proportion on their properties, but that the cutters can detect them 

 after the first stroke or two, after which they go no further with the 

 tree. The presence 01 many blocks of bastard logwood would seriously 

 lower the value of any shipment. It is noticed, however, that there 

 are certain degrees in the occurrence or absence of the dye. 



From the date before me I have not been able to determine the 

 cultural conditions which give rise to the bastard wood Apparently 

 the trees while alive are indistinguishable from those bearing the dye. 

 The practical absence of the dye seems a matter well worthy of further 

 investigation in the field, for apparently every property possesses a 

 greater or less percentage of the so-called bastard trees. 



Note by Director of Public Gardens and Plantations. 



I have found no differences in leaves and flowers between common 

 logwood and the " bastard" kind. They are not botanical varieties, 

 but the bastard wood may be a degenerate form. I do not think that 

 soil makes any difference. The subject of inferior wood was discussed in 

 Bulletin for August, 1896, page 179, a copy of which will be forwarded 

 on application. 



NOTES ON IRRIGATION. 



Recent Progress in the Study of Irrigation. 



According to Newell, " the area irrrigated within the arid and subhu- 

 mid regions in the western part of the United States during the census 

 year ending May 31,1890, aggregated 3,631,381 acres or 5,674.03 square 

 miles, approximately 0.4 per cent, of the total area west of the one 

 hundredth meridian." The arid region where irrigation is an absolute 

 necessity for successful agriculture, embraces in part or in whole the 

 following States and Territories : Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, 

 Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyo- 

 ming. The subhumid region where us a rule insufficient rain falls for 

 full crops includes parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, 

 Kansas, and Texas. A large proportion of the irrigable area in these 

 vast regions still remains to be irrigated. 



The necessity for irrigation, moreover, is beginning to be felt in the 

 so-called humid regions east of the one hundredth meridian, and within 

 comparatively recent years widespread interest has been manifested in 

 the subject of irrigation in this region. In recent years widespread 



