IB 4 FOREST AND STREAM. [Feb. 25, 1899. 
Z=I " .N»62 
KNOCKABOUT SAILPLAN. 
The Adirondack Spruce. 
Under this title the Critic Company have published a 
little volume containing an exceedingly interesting study 
of the forest in Ne-ha-sa-ne Park by Mr. Gilford Pinchot,- 
United States Forester, who, in the limits of 150 pages, 
has given us a collection in facts and figures which are of 
the highest practical use. 
Forestry in America is young, and while for many years 
a small body of men interested in forest preservation 
have preached the doctrine of forest preservation, they 
have often done it with so little judgment as to arouse 
only hostility on the part of the practical lumbermen. 
Mr. Pinchot, however, holds the undeniable view that 
forest preservation and the lumber interest are bound to- 
gether by the closest ties, and that the forest must be pre- 
served in order that its ripened product shall be har- 
vested and marketed intelligently, so that fresh crops of 
timber may be continuously produced. When the time 
shall come that the lumbermen believe this to be the ob- 
ject of forest preservation, they, of all men, will be the 
most enthusiastic in their devotion to its cause. 
The study of the forest described in this book was 
carried on between December, 1896, and September, 1897, 
under the management of the Division of Forestry of the 
U. S. Department of Agriculture. Its object was the 
preservation and proper management of spruce timber in 
the northeastern United States. The original forests can- 
not long continue to supply the demands which are made- 
on them, and there is pressing need that subsequent 
;rops of this valuable timber should be provided for, lest 
the industries which depend on it should be crippled 
in the near future. . . 
Jhe book is divid'gd'into two parts^ the fir?t contammg 
a description of the forest studied, of the spruce there 
and its method of growth, of the spruce in mixture with 
other trees, of the associated trees, of the lumbering, and 
of the basis on which the forest should be managed. Fol- 
lowing this are series of volume tables, valuation surveys 
and yield tables, as to the spruce and as to associated 
species. The second part of the book is the Working 
Plan. It treats of topography and climate, transportation, 
reasons for forest management, treatment of the forest, 
cutting and returns. There is an appendix giving four- 
teen valuation surveys, measured on cut-over land, at 
Santa Clara, N. Y., in* different situations and soils. 
There is a very complete index. 
Perhaps no work more useful for forestry has ever 
been undertaken in this country than the study which 
this little book represents, and the publication of its 
results. "The Adirondack Spruce" should be in the hands 
of every landowner in the country who has a piece of 
woodland on his place ; for the information which it con- 
• tains about forestry management in general and about 
the Adirondacks in particular is of very great interest and 
value. 
As the yachting journal of America, the Forest and Stream is 
the recognized medium of communication between the maker of 
yachtsmen's supplies and the yachting public. Its value for ad- 
vertising has been aemonstrated by patrons who have employed 
its columns continuously for years. 
An English View of American Yachting. 
The following, from the London Field, is not intended 
to be funny. The historical portion may pass, though 
as a matter of strict accuracy the capsize of Mohg-wk in 
1876, and of not one, but many, smaller centerboard 
craft, had no immediate effect. These unfortunate occur- 
rences were explained in a way and glossed over by the 
majority of American yachtsmen, all firm believers in the 
shoal centerboard sloop. They did, however, serve a 
good purpose incidentally as a fulcrum for the lever by 
which the original "cutter cranks" — and we are glad to 
say that we were one of these— finally introduced the 
deeper model with lead keel and cutter rig. 
When it comes to geography the Field is sadly mixed. 
If the New York Y. C. desires to introduce a pleasing 
novelty into its cruise this year, it might plan it so as to 
sail from a prayer meeting, through "Humphrey's Hole" 
and up "the Fall River;" by way of extra diversion, some 
appropriate nautical ceremonies might be introduced 
when the fleet crosses the Fall River Line. 
"Forest and Stream continues to publish drawings 
of small racing and cruising yachts; but they are monot- 
onously of the same pattern, though all are of shapely 
form, and as they have lead keels, slightly bulbed, they 
are a great advance on the old centerboard skimming- 
dish type. This is a come-down after all that has been 
said by Americans (devoted yachtsmen especially) in fa- 
vor of the centerboard; but the capsizing of the Mohawk 
and that of another yacht (the name of which we forget) 
opened their eyes to the value of depth and a lead keel. 
Mr. Burgess, an American designer, recognized the value 
of these elements and, aided by encouragement from Mr. 
Malcolm Forbes and Gen. Payne, (?) designed Puntan 
and Mayflower as 'compromise' craft; that is, they had 
heavy lead keels, good draft, and were fitted with a 
very small centerboard. (?) It will be remembered that 
Volunteer and Vigilant were also of this type; but Vig- 
ilant, at any rate, revolted against the centerplate and 
finally dropped it at the western extremity of the Isle of 
Wight. It is to be regretted that Americans do not go 
in for racing large or medjum-sized yachts more sy§' 
