During the summer, that is to say, from April 16 to November 30, the Sperbelgraben valley gave up 69 % of the rain water it received, and the Rappengraben did the same as against 31 % in winter. Since the water-flow is the same for both valleys, it must be admitted that the amount of water evaporating per season and per year is the same for land under forest and un wooded land.

Taking into account the observations made in the Emmenthal, it may be stated that, speaking generally, the rain water is distributed as follows:

It therefore appears that, throughout the year in the Swiss pre-Alpine' regions at altitudes up to 2000 m., the rain water finds its way by surface drainage and infiltration directly into the streams, and that 40 % is evaporated by the soil and by plants.

The soil of wooded land, on account of its greated porosity, is more permeable than that of land bare of trees; it absorbs a great quantity of water which percolates from it, whereas where there are no trees, this water collects and forms streams.

The matter derived from the erosion of rocks and from the detritus of water-satured land has a volume per hectare per annum of 0.85 cu. m. in the case of the Sperbelgraben (wooded), and 2.22 cu. m. in that of the Rappengraben (partly wooded).

To sum up, the forest regulates the flow of the streams without, however, increasing the amount of water. The first fact was already known, but it is of the utmost importance in the utilisation of great water power; therefore, foresters and engineers should consult together with a view to planting and maintaining forests for selection-felling. The second fact is quite new, and we should be very grateful to Prof. ENGLER for having proved it so decisively.

772 The Experimental Cultivation of Foreign Trees in Austria.

ZEDERBAUER, E.

(Mitteilung der deutschösterreichischer forstlichen Versuchsanstalt in Mariabrünn), in the Centralblatt für das gesamte Forstwesen, Year XLV. Parts 7-8, pp. 153-169. Vienna, .1919.

The first report on the experimental cultivation of foreign trees in Austria was drawn up in 1901. The present report deals with the plantations and experiments made by the Mariabrunn Forestry Experiment

Institute in the State forests, or in collaboration with other public or private establishments.

In 1901, the total number of experiment plots was 372; 266 for conifers and 106 for deciduous trees. In 1916, the total number had increased to 640; 513 for conifers and 127 for deciduous trees. The conifers chiefly cultivated, as being in most request, were: Douglas pine (Pseudotsuga Douglasii), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Weymouth pine (Pinus Strobus) and Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis.) The red oak (Quercus rubra) was the most commonly-grown deciduous tree.

From the results of the experiments so far carried out, the follow.ng trees seem worthy of recommendation:

(a) For the Castanetum: Juglans nigra, Quercus rubra, Q. palustris, Fraxinus americana, and Pinus excelsa.

(b) For the Fagetum, according to the locality: Pseudotsuga Douglaşi and P. glauca, Pinus Strobus, Picea Sitchensis, Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana, Thuja gigantea, Larix leptolepsis; and for the lower Fagetum alone, Juglans nigra, Quercus rubra, Carya aiba and Fraxinus americana. (c) For the lower (Picetum: Pseudotsuga glauca ard P. Douglasii, Picea sitchensis.

Picea pungens and P. sitchensis are fairly resistant to the attacks of large game; they are both suitable for the Picetum and the Fagetum. The number of foreign trees worth growing is limited, especially from the point view of timber, which must be better than, or different from, that of the native species, or else produced in larger quantities. The only trees presenting these advantages are: Douglas fir, Weymonth pine, Lawson cypress, giant Thuja, white hickory, and black walnut. The principal object lies in the utilisation of the timber;otherwise, from an aesthetic point of view, many other trees could be recommended for gardens and parks.

In planting new experiment' plots with foreign trees, a space of at least, 0.25 hectares should be allotted to each species, if a good return is to be obtained. With regard to trees of which the qualities have not yet been sufficiently tested, only a few hundred individuals ought to be planted per plot.

Further, as M. CIESLAR has suggested, it would be advisable to plant from 2 to 3, or even more, hectares in different climatic zones, where trees suitable to the zone could first be raised, and then planted in 0.25 hectare experiment plots at the maximum most suited to each kind of tree. Indigenous trees should be grown for purposes of comparision with the foreign species.

773 Brazilian Timber.

I. As madeiras do Brazil, in Ministerio da Agricultura, Industria e Commercio, serviço de Informações 2nd Edition, pp. 1-28. Rio de Janeiro, 1918. II. COSTA, A., Silvicultura, in Questões Economicas, pp. 79-102. Ibid. III. Movimento economico do Brazil, in Ministerio da Agricultura Industria e Commercio, Dados Estatisticos, p. 50, pl. Ibid. · IV. LOPES I. S., Economic Notes on Brazil, Timber, in Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, Bureau of Information, Third Edition, pp. 57-59, Idem, 1919. — V. Commercio e exportação de pinho in Boletim do Ministerio da Agricul

tura, Industria e Commercio. Year VI, pp. 75-78, Ibid. — VI. Commercio exterior do Brazil, de Janeiro a Dezembro 1917-1918, in Ministerio da Fazeinda, Directoria de Esta tistica Commercial, Ibid. VII. WHITFORD, N. N. The Structure and use of the Parana Pine Forests of Brazil, in the Journal of Forestry, Vol. XVII, No. 2, pp. 154-158. Washington, 1918. VIII. MCLEAN, R. C., Studies in the Ecology of Tropical Forests, with Special Reference to the Forests of South Brazil, Introduction and Pt. I. Humidity, in The Journal of Ecology, Vol. VII, Nos. 1-2, pp. 5-54, figs 21, pl. 1. Cambridge id. IX. DUMAS, L., La gelée au Brésil, in the Annales de Gembloux, Year XXVI, Pt. 3, pp. 118-122. Brussels, 1920.-X. Brasiliens Holzausfuhr, in Der Tropenpflanzer, Year XXIII, No. 1, pp. 22-23. Berlin, id. XI. LONG J. D., Foreign Trade Situation in Para, Brazil, in Commerce Reports, No. 124, pp. 1158-1159. Washington, id. - XII. PESSŌA, E. (President of the Republic). Mensagem aprasentata ao Congresso Nacional na Aper tura da Terceira Sessão da Decima Legislatura, in Republica dos Estados Unidos do Brazil, p. 146. Rio de Janeiro ́id.

X. XI. — Brazil possesses certain advantages which give promise of a brilliant future as a timber exporting country. The forests are often traversed by water courses that can be used for transport purposes to the port, of shipment. In the State of Amazonas, whose tropical climate also permits of speedy re-afforestation, specially favoured in this respect, and the evident possibilities of the exportation of timber from the States of Amazonas and Para will afford distinct compensation for the present stagnation in the rubber trade. Already in Para, the local timber has begun to be used in ship building. The timber exported does not only include that used for building but also for making sleepers, and for furniture etc.

II. III. VI. Table I shows the exports of timber in the 6 years between 1913 and 1918.

TABLE I. Timber Export from Brazil, 1913 to 1918 (Metric tons).

I. — Table II gives the chief forest species with their specific weight and resistance to pressure.

Of these, there are 30 suitable for building, 9 for ship building, hydraulics and submerged constructions in general, 15 for sleepers, 15 for furniture and veneering, 13 for beams and coach work, 10 for dyewoods and, in addition, 8 palms, 9 oil-bearing trees, 6 latex, 6 starch, 8 fibre,

ן

8 tanning, 6 colouring, 30 officinal, 6 gum and resin plants and 8 of distinct economic importance.

I. IV. Besides the States of Amazonas and Para, those of Matto, Grosso, Bahia, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Geraes and Parana are also well stocked with valuable timber.

The most important are as follows:

Angico (Piptadenia rigida Benth.): wood solid, compact; heart wood red with dark spots used for interior work, as it develops with a rapidity equal or even superior to that of eucalyptus, it is decidedly suitable for afforestation purposes.

Cedro (Cedrela sp.) female mahogany; well known.

Canella (Nectandra spp.) compact, yellowish brown heartwood according to species; used for building purposes.

Copaiba (Copaifera officinalis L.) heartwood deep red, very compact; excellent for building and submerged constructions.

Jequitiba (rosa) (Courataris legalis Mart.): heartwood rose red; soft; used for casing and boxes, one of the most beautiful species as regard shape, etc.

Jaca andá (Dalbergia nigra Fr. All), rosewood.

Páo Brasil (Caesalpina spp.): Brazil or red wood; used for hydraulic constructions ; dye wood.

Peroba (Aspidosperma spp.): heartwood golden colour, compact and hard; building, hydraulic and shipping: furniture.

Sapucaia (mirim) (Lecythis minor Vell.): heartwood deep red and dark-veined; very durable and excellent for sleepers.

Massaranduba (Mimusops elata Fr. All.): heart wood red, very compact; used for construction purposes; homonymous similar to Lucama procera, Mart.; the former indigenous to northern Brazil.

Sebastião di arruda (Physocalymma floridum Pohl): compact; very valuable for costly furniture; price varies from 50 to 60 milreis per cu.

metre.

V. VII.

The export of "pinho do Paran à" (Araucaria brasiliensis Loud) greatly increased during the war; it replaces admirably the soft