The items appearing here are condensed selections of news thought to be of interest to readers of UNASYLVA. They are grouped alphabetically by countries under hearings currently used by the Division of Forestry and Forest Products for reference purposes. The Editor will be glad to receive direct from readers authenticated items of interest and of news value for this part of the review.
General
Fundamental science
Silviculture and management
Forest protection
Mensuration, increment, and yield
Logging and engineering
Conversion
Utilization
Economics and statistics
Policy, legislation and administration
Meetings
Personalities
Australia
· The Forest Products Laboratory of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne, is making its facilities available to several holders of UNESCO fellowships interested in forest products investigations. Two specialists from Pakistan and two from Malaya are at present working with the staff of the Australian Laboratory.
Bulgaria
· Bulgaria, judging by area, is a well-wooded country. Some 33 percent of its territory or close to 3,000,000 hectares are covered with forest. Yet, apparently, the country is experiencing a serious shortage of wood for construction purposes and fuel. Before the war, 16 percent of the forests belonged to the State 59 percent to communities (including monasteries), and 25 percent to private individuals or corporations. Forests, irrespective of ownership, were greatly overcut especially in readily accessible regions where annual cut was up to double the annual growth. What saved the Bulgarian forests from more serious damage is the feet that two-thirds of the forests consist of broadleaf species capable of regeneration from coppice shoots. The prevailing species in these low forests is oak (50 percent); beech, horn-beam, plane, and elm also occur in varying quantities. The few remaining high broadleaf forests consist of beech - both European and Oriental (Fagus sylvaticus). Conifers such as pines and juniper form only 30 percent.
Before the war, timber accounted for 0.3 percent of the country's exports. Under the 1947 constitution, all forests were declared national property. A Ministry of Forests was created in 1949. The forests were divided into 26 regional directorates embracing 260 forest units responsible to the Central Organization. The timber industry is at a low level because: (1) of leek of roads and streams for transportation purposes, (2) much of the forest is in mountainous regions, and (3) the principal tools in the forest industry still are the axe and the hand saw. The Ministry of Forests hopes to increase the annual output of constructional timber to 2.280,000 m³ by 1953 (228 percent above 1939) with all necessary safeguards for regeneration and improvement of the stands. Some 800,000 hectares must be reforested in order to protect the land from the effects of rainfall erosion. During the period 1949-1953 67,000 hectares are to be reforested and 52,000 hectares of badly depleted forests are to be brought into better growing condition.
There is a Forest Research Institute in Sofia, and at the Agricultural Academy in Sofia a department of forestry has been established. A number of technical schools for training qualified personnel of lower grades have been opened.
Canada
· Canadian forest schools graduated 317 forestry students in the spring of 1950 bringing to 1,500 the total number of professionally trained foresters in the country. This number is still about 1,000 short of the force believed necessary to provide proper management for the 521 million acres (211 million ha.) of productive forests. The shortage of foresters is accentuated by the feet that there are only 35 foresters dealing with the problems of wood lots, although there are 600,000 small privately owned forests.
Germany
· A Working Group on Forest Genetics and Plant Breeding has been created with the following aims: (1) advancement of knowledge in the whole field of the breeding of forest trees; (2) co-ordination of experimental investigations, (3) dissemination of the results of research in close collaboration with practice so that they can be of practical use; (4) advice to government and private forest administrations, and (5) protection of the interests of the scientists engaged in work connected with the breeding of forest plants. All scientists working in this field in Germany have joined the group.
India
· "The proper utilization of forest wealth must be an important part of our national policy, if we are to succeed in increasing national prosperity." This was the theme of the Convocation address to the Forest Colleges and Forest Research Institute in Dehra Dun recently by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. In the course of the address the Deputy Prime Minister of India further said: "Our watch word should be that we create more than we destroy, and turn all our cultivable area suitable to be brought under forests into lands yielding either valuable forest wealth or performing the useful function of sentinels against the forces of elements, water, weather and sands.... The history of denudation of the forest resources of this country is replete with instances of cruel exploitation of this vital national wealth and criminal waste of capital placed in our hands by a bountiful Nature. Planned exploitation of such resources, based on the principle of preservation and replacement, is a feature of comparatively recent date. Obviously, we cannot make up the leeway of centuries, but we can by judicious planning and lay out still husband the resources that are available and create wealth which, in course of time may achieve that balance between afforestation and clearance which is the hallmark of scientific planning."
United States of America
· A technical mission organized by the Organization for European Economic Cooperation has been visiting the U.S.A. to study silviculture, forest exploitation and timber transport; organization and techniques of the sawmill industry; plywood, veneer, and board industries, conditioning and marketing of timber, and tropical timbers. The mission, comprised of representatives of a number of European countries, split into five study groups On their return to Paris, they prepared reports for OEEC.
United States of America
· The Institute of Forest Genetics of California has succeeded in germinating several seeds derived from the fertilization of flowers of the Pinus lambertiana with pollen of Pinus Armandi and P. koraiensis. In 1947, four apparently filled seeds were obtained, but despite a special treatment (embryo culture), no germination ensued. In 1948, another method of treatment was tried on seven apparently sound seeds derived from the crossing of the sugar pine with P. Armandi, and one apparently sound seed obtained from a cross with P. koraiensis. All the seeds thus treated germinated, two of the plants obtained from the crossing with P. Armandi died during the first winter, but all the others are growing normally. They appear to be true hybrids because (1) they produced needle fascicles during the first summer, and (2) the dorsal surface of the needles have no stomata, a characteristic of P. Armandi and P. koraiensis but not of the sugar pine. Obtaining hybrids of these species is of great interest because the sugar pine is susceptible to blister rust attacks (Cronartium ribicola), whereas the Asiatic white pine species, with which crosses were attempted, arc resistant to this disease.
Canada
· Responsibility for some of the recent flood disasters at Winnipeg is found to lie in forest abuse. About one-third of the drainage area of the Red River in the North is forested mostly with spruce and the thin soil forms a scant cover for the underlying rocks. Large areas of this have been clear-cut the forest soil burned, thereby inducing rapid snow melt and rapid runoff. Additional areas of the Red River in northern Minnesota U.S.A., have also been abused by clearcutting and burning forest areas.
· A comprehensive analysis has recently been made of the large number of experiments in direct seeding in the southern coastal region of British Columbia during the period 1923-49. An extensive area more than can be covered by planting, is in need of reforestation because of past losses through fire and logging. Experiments have been conducted with Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), western red cedar (Thuja plicata), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia). The latter is by far the most important species. However, the experiments showed that direct seeding would not be successful until some form of protection could be given to the seed against the deermouse (Peromyscus). Various control measures have been investigated, including physical barriers, poisons, and repellents. The screening of seed spots is the most promising, but is too expensive. Wide distribution of poison also has serious disadvantages, and as yet no effective method has been discovered for the application of repellents. In the ease of hemlock, cedar, and Sitka spruce, rodent control would not appear so important and some success was attained when these species were sown on suitable sites.
· Improved techniques applied in the three major forest nurseries operated by the British Columbia Forest Service have now reduced the cost of trees ready for shipment to one-third of a cent (Canadian) apiece, including charges for capital investment. Major steps which have been applied include: (1) weeding by a high-pressure blow torch which kills the weed, but does not damage tree seedlings (2) machine pruning of roots of the seedlings at the end of the first year of growth, and (3) denser stocking of seedbeds which increases the output per man-day in lifting of seedlings.
· The tolerant hardwood-softwood forest of Eastern Canada was the cradle of the Canadian forest industry. First, softwood logging operations removed most of the softwood species, and more recently high-grading of the more valuable hardwood species and trees has left large areas on which defective or otherwise unmarketable overmature hardwoods occupy most of the crown canopy and retard the growth of desirable younger trees. Thus, large areas have been reduced to a state of very low productivity. Beginning in 1936, research was initiated to determine ways to bring these non productive areas back into production of timbers of commercial value through removal of wolf trees and thinnings. In one Particular experiment, three transect plots were laid out, each covering the three site-types encountered: (1) the trillium-vibernum type which occurs on the deeper and richer soils of the lower slopes and the valleys; (2) the mitchella-aster type of the upper slopes; and (3) the aster-gaultheria type on the thin-soiled hilltops. The first plot had work limited to one man-day per acre, chiefly in girdling of wolf trees. On the second, all desirable work was done, amounting to about two man-days per acre, and the third plot was left as a control. Species were favored in the following order: yellow birch (Betula lutea), hard maple (Acer saccharum) basswood (Tilia glabra), oak, and white birch (Betula papyrifera). Desired stocking was set at 500 stems per acre. Detailed records of changes in stand composition, tree condition, stand condition, and net increment per acre have been obtained by detailed examinations. Response to treatment has been good in all three site-types of the plot which was heavily treated, being best in the valleys and least effective on the ridges. The desired species on the lightly treated plot also responded to treatment although less so than on the heavily treated plot. At the same time on the controlled plot little growth of potential commercial timber is being obtained and without treatment it would be a very long time before another commercial cut is available. The bottom type is the only one of the three suitable to yellow birch, but hard maple responded well on all three site-types. At present it is highly uncertain whether treatment of deteriorated stands on ridge tops will be justifiable.
Cyprus
· The campaign to establish Village Fuel Areas has met with outstanding success. To date there are 80 such plantations covering an area of 5,000 acres (2,000 ha.). By establishing Village Fuel Areas for villages in the fuelless plains, pressure is taken from the mountain and hill forests where the villagers would usually obtain their essential needs of fuel. While the present fuel plantations are far from sufficient, they are serving a very valuable function in showing that otherwise worthless lands available to villages may be made to produce their fuel needs. Owners of such fuel plantations have shown a lively appreciation of their value and have protected them against trespass and depredation, even though they are generally unfenced and unguarded. Trespassing on the State forests, on the contrary, is still common since the people have not yet realized their own stake in these public properties.
French West Indies
· Experience in reforestation with Swietenia macrophylla in Martinique dates from 1905 when the first plantation of Honduras mahogany was made. Optimum space for field planting is 3 by 3 meters and success of plantings depends largely on proper care during the first year, although weeding of plantations three times a year during the first five years is required to free young trees from vines which may hinder their growth. Thinning normally starts at the age of five or six years. Growth in height is about 13 meters at 10 years of age and 22 meters at 25 years. A tree 35 years old yields 35 planks, each 2 meters long 0.25 meters wide, and 0.07 meters thick. Four-fifths of the trees should be well-developed with proper care in a plantation of 1 hectare at 3 meter spacing.
India
· The Vana Mahotsava or Great Forest Festival is to be celebrated annually in July. In 1950 the Union Agriculture Minister set a goal of 10 million trees to be planted. In his call for the peoples co-operation, the President said, "The duty of the public at this juncture is obvious. They must co-operate with the Government in a common endeavour not only to rehabilitate our denuded forests but also to plant trees wherever necessary and nurture them properly in order that they may grow into usefulness to the people and future generations, and regain the colour and beauty of our ancient land."
Union of South Africa
· At present there are over ½ million acres (200,000 ha.) under wattle, of which Natal has about 400,000 acres (160,000 ha.). The value of the bark and tanning extract was over 2 million pounds sterling in 1945. Black wattle (Acacia mollissima) is by far the most important species. The main plantations in Natal are confined to the mist belt at altitudes of 2,000 to 4,500 feet (600 to 1,400 m.) with a mean annual rainfall of over 35 inches (89 cm.). Soils vary from sands to loams, but all are deficient in humus. Rotations are very short and from eight to ten years is the rule. At ten years of age, average height on second quality sites is about 63 feet (19.2 m.) and mean D.B.H. is 6.6 inches (17 cm.), whereas on first quality sites, average height is about 80 feet (24.4 m.) and average D.B.H. 8.6 inches (22 cm.). About 12 tons of green bark per acre (30 tons per ha.) are obtained by harvesting at ten years, using clear-felling. The final stocking is about 400 stems per acre. Although originally broadcast burning of regenerated areas to stimulate reproduction was practiced, present policy avoids burning, but insists on early and heavy thinnings. Burning was found to decrease soil fertility and to stimulate or induce erosion, as well as stimulate excessively dense natural reproduction and destroy some of the organisms which help in the natural control of bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), a great pest on wattle. The aim of present management is to produce pure, even-aged crops grown on short rotation and clear-felled, with the log debris scattered to prevent soil erosion.
United Kingdom
· The latest booklet in the Forestry commission's series "Britain's Forests" describes the Kielder Forest of approximately 74,000 acres (30,000 ha.) where 23,361 acres (9,454 ha.) have so far been planted out of a plantable area of about 42,000 acres (17,000 ha.) and where planting is proceeding at a rate of 3,000 acres (1,200 ha.) a year with 50 percent Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), 40 percent Norway spruce (P. abies), 5 percent Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), 3 percent Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia), and 2 percent others. Thinnings arc already yielding material for farm and forest fencing and will soon produce pitwood for collieries in Northumberland and South Scotland. The area is mainly peat moorland and the area now shows the development of "turf planting" in all its stages. Each tree is planted in a square piece of overturned turf cut from drains required to dry out the moor. A recent development is the use of a large tractor drawn plough to cut the actual drain: this plough places the peat in a long continuous roll along the drain making it a simple matter to cut out the turfs and spread them at the required distance of about five feet apart. The main problems in this forest are protection against fire and the maintenance of efficient drainage. The area will eventually contain five well-planned forest villages intended to provide homes for some two thousand forest workers.
United States of America
· An example of the interest displayed by wood-using industries in replanting forest lands on which they depend for their raw material supplies is furnished by the pulpwood industry of the Southern States which has this year, for the second consecutive year, planted over 60,000 acres (24,000 ha.). This year this industry has replanted 42,000 acres (17,000 ha.) owned by the pulpmills and provided seedlings for the replanting of 1,500 acres (600 ha.) belonging to other pulp wood producers. It has also provided seedlings for the afforestation of 18,000 acres (7,300 ha.) of worn-out or idle forest and farm lands.
· The problem of obtaining proper distribution of natural seedfalls for regeneration of sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) in California has always been exceedingly difficult because of the large size of the seed. Due to this feet it falls rapidly and, with a wind velocity in the forest of 10 m.p.h. seed falling a vertical distance of 100 feet (30 m.) would fall only 169 feet (52 m.) horizontally, such wind velocities are not common. The distribution for a radius of 105 feet (32 m.) from seed trees was found to be at the rate of over 21,000 seeds per acre (52,000 seeds per ha.), whereas beyond that distance up to over 200 feet (60 m.) the rate was only about 4 000 seeds per acre (19,000 seeds per ha.) Very large numbers of seed are required to obtain established seedlings, since, for example, a seedfall at the rate of 29,000 per acre (72,000 seeds per ha.) produced seedlings only at the rate of 700 per acre (1,700 per ha.) and seedfall at the rate of 10,600 per acre (26,000 per ha.) produced only 139 seedlings (343 seedlings per ha.). the uncertainty of stocking by natural seedfall even after soil preparation and control of rodents indicates the probable desirability of artificial regeneration where the establishment of sugar pine is important.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
· As the energies of many foresters in the U.S.S.R. are now largely engaged in actual afforestation operations, especially in the prairie regions, it is natural that current silviculture literature should be devoted to problems connected with this work - collection and storage of seed, production of the largest number of seedlings per hectare in forest nurseries, highest percentage of yield of survival of seedlings planted in the field. T. D. Lysenko has recently issued a set of rules for the collection, storage, and pregermination of acorns for direct sowing in the field. There is a growing trend, initiated by Lysenko, to establish plantations, especially of oak, by direct sowing of the acorns instead of using seedlings. As an essential condition for establishing oak plantations by direct sowing, it is recommended that the acorns be sown as early as possible in the spring and that they should be in a state of initial germination, swollen and ready to burst. To get the acorns into the necessary state of pregermination, they must be spread out immediately after their collection in trenches 1 meter deep by 1 meter wide in layers of one to two acorns, alternated with thin layers of soil of normal moisture content 1 to 2 cm. thick. The trenches should be filled with these alternating layers up to 20 cm. from the top. This remaining 20 cm. is filled with soil only. To protect the trenches from autumn rains, the soil is heaped up slightly above the level of the surrounding area. When the frosts arrive, additional earth is piled on the top and edges of the trenches to protect the acorns from freezing. Acorns should not be sown in the field in the autumn as this will result in many being killed by frost or destroyed by rodents. The acorns stored in the trenches usually begin to swell during the winter. During the course of the winter, and especially during the period of a month or a month and a half before spring arrives, samples of acorns should be dug out to determine their state of dormancy. If a month before spring only a small percentage of acorns show any sign of starting to germinate, the trenches must be emptied and the acorns and the soil spread out in layers usually 15 to 20 cm. deep in a building with a temperature of 7 to 12° C. Such treatment will cause the still dormant acorns to start germinating and thus prepare them for sowing in the early spring. The object of pregermination and early sowing is to take advantage of moderate temperatures and favorable water and soil conditions in the early spring. By the time high temperatures and drought arrive in July and August, the roots of seedlings will have penetrated the soil to a depth of 1 meter and will then be capable of withstanding the summer heat and drought. It has been found that acorns that were sown late in the spring and which were not pregerminated produced seedlings whose roots had not even by the summer penetrated the superficial soil layer which becomes overheated and dry. As a result, such seedlings usually perish.
· Two years have passed since the U.S.S.R. embarked on its ambitious plan of transforming nature over an area of 120 million ha. In spite of many frankly admitted errors in the organization of the work and in the use of the proper technique, 1949 is claimed to have been, on the whole, a year of substantial progress. The planting of shelter belts around cultivated fields, for instance, had been carried out by the spring of 1949 on 167,000 hectares, thus fulfilling 89.5 percent of the year's plan. The forest nurseries in the southeast and east have raised 3,000 million seedlings for planting in 1950. Apparently little has been done as yet on the actual planting of the 5,300 km² of the state protective forest zones beyond surveys, allocation of the land, and preparation of the ground. Some 22,000 tons of acorns and several thousand tons of seed of other trees and shrubs were collected. Great progress was made in establishing and equipping 54 tractor stations and a large number of state forest nurseries. All the new tractor stations were uniformly provided with several makes of large powerful caterpillar tractors, cultivators, plows, planting machines, trucks, movable water tanks, excavators, scrapers, movable workshops, and other tractor-drawn machinery. In 1950 the number of tractor-drawn or tractor-mounted machines was to reach 15,000. One of the main tasks of the tractor stations was to prepare the soil for planting in the autumn of 1949 and 1950. the plan for 1949 called for the preparation of 616,300 hectares of plow land. By September 1949, 491,400 hectares, or 80 percent of the entire year's plan, had been plowed and made ready for planting.
· Investigations in the broadleaf forests of Tula province have brought out some interesting facts regarding the effects of thinnings on the accumulation and thawing of snow. In broadleaf forests located on a plateau without pronounced features, both moderate and heavy thinnings increased the snow accumulation by 3 to 17 percent. On the other hand, by allowing more sunshine to reach the ground, they shortened the period of thawing in middle-aged stands by two or three days, and in young stands by three to five days. On southern, southeastern, and southwestern slopes heavy thinnings decreased the depth of the snow cover and the amount of snow water by 3 to 17 percent, increased the rapidity of snow thawing by 5 to 32 percent, and the depth to which the upper layers of the soil froze by 10 to 12 percent. The steeper the slope and the more southern the exposure, the more disadvantageous was the effect of thinnings upon the water regime. For these reasons, no heavy thinnings are to be allowed on steep southern, southeastern, and southwestern exposures, in broadleaf forests, especially in watershed protection forest or in woods bordering streams.
Uruguay
· An effective contribution to the afforestation of the country took place during the present year due to the President's request to Congress to pass a law dedicating 1950 to the memory of General Jose Artigas, national hero of the country, on the one hundredth anniversary of his death, as "Year of the Tree to Artigas." It contains an extensive program of afforestation on public and private lands. the acute problems created by depletion of the forests require the co operation of all citizens. Government officials private individuals, and even school children are to help out in the campaign. Uruguay has the lowest per caput forest area of all Latin American countries and the effects of deforestation arc heavily felt in agriculture, water and fuel supply, and many other aspects of national life.
Canada
· The prevalence of man-caused forest fires in Canada is leading to severe penalties being imposed by the courts when those responsible for starting fires are convicted. Recently not only fines and imprisonment have been imposed as penalties, but the culprits were assessed with the costs of suppressing the fire. It is hoped that the imposition of such severe penalties will compel users of the woods to practice greater care when they build fires for camping and similar uses.
· A new Dominion Laboratory of Insect Pathology located at Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, is being established, and will be devoted entirely to the study of insect diseases in conjunction with several field establishments which will be established throughout Canada. It will have to deal with the disastrous forest insect attacks which now account for at least one-fifth of the total annual depletion of Canadian forests, first of all with the spruce bud-worm (Cacoecia fumiferana). If this forest insect can be permanently infected with a virus disease, great steps will have been taken to reduce the current losses.
United States or America
· Recent studies on the use of "wet-water" for forest fire suppression conducted by the California Forest and Range Experiment Station have shown that in comparison with ordinary water: (1) savings up to 23 percent in volume of water required and 13 percent in time of mop-up can be obtained if the "wet water" is applied with reasonable efficiency, (2) rekindling of fuel is reduced as much as 30 percent; (3) "wet water" is markedly superior in its ability to knock down flames quickly; (4) dead fuel along the burning edge of a fire remained wet up to 50 percent longer when sprayed with "wet wafer"; (5) fuels once treated with "wet water" and allowed to dry may be sprayed later with plain water with results comparable to an original spraying with "wet water." In general, indications are that wetting agents have a definite place in forest fire suppression although further work is needed on the project.
· A comprehensive report on forest fires in the United States during 1949 showed that the number increased from 174,189 in 1948, to 193,774 in 1949 but that acreage decreased from 16,557,000 acres (6,701,000 ha.), to 15,397,000 acres (6,231,000 ha.). 83 percent of the total burned area was on unprotected forest land, whereas on protected areas only 0.46 percent of the total forest area was burned over. Comparing 1948 to 1949 lightning fires increased from 4,392 to 8,235; smoker fires from 14,988 to 17,447; camper fires from 3,064 to 4,165; debris burning fires from 11,101 to 16,466; and incendiary fires from 20,047 to 26,726.
· An eight-year study of cattle grazing in woodlands on the Coweeta Experimental Forest indicates that a 2-inch (6 cm.) storm now produces as much peak discharge, 23 cu. ft. per see. per sq. mile (0.26 m³ per see. per km²), as did a 3-inch (7.6 cm.) storm before cattle grazing was allowed and that a 3-inch storm now produces twice as much as it did originally. Turbidity of the stream from the area has increased greatly, it was originally clear. Trampling is largely responsible for these results, since porosity has decreased as much as 60 percent and permeability as much as 90 percent. Height growth of smaller trees of economically superior species has also decreased as much as 60 percent and the number of plants has decreased as much as 76 percent. It is pointed out that these effects are just beginning to show, and it is to be expected that there will be more pronounced effects as time goes on.
Germany
· Two American experts loaned by the U. S. Forest Service to the Economic Cooperation Administration recently spent four months in West Germany to advise and assist the German administration on forestry surveying techniques, including sampling method procedure methods of estimation, and analysis of the data. A sample area of 17,000 acres (6,900 ha.) was selected for demonstration, and at the end a sampling error of 3 ¼ percent with only 363 plots was obtained. The detailed knowledge of areas and stand classes already available made it far easier to apply samplying methods in this ease than in the United States. The sampling method is under consideration for use in a survey of all West Germany, since, at the present rate of progress, the customary management surveys would not be completed for twenty years.
Malaya
· The need to open new forest areas has increased as a result of the war and Japanese occupation when unregulated working allowed many of the most readily accessible forests to be exhausted, and squatters, driven from the towns by the necessity to grow food, destroyed much of the forest adjacent to the roads.
Under the 1949 United Kingdom loan to Malaya funds have been made available for the construction of forest roads. Part of this has been spent on equipment which includes six caterpillar D6 tractors fitted with Hyster towing winches and hydraulic angle-dozers, a Diesel roller scraper, mobile workshop, and transport. It is proposed to construct about 120 miles (190 km.) of roads and tracks during the next six to eight years, of which 70 miles (110 furl.) will be all weather construction 16 feet (4.9 m.) in width with strip metaling; the remainder will be logging roads made to a lower specification.
United States of America
· A recent patent has been issued on a method developed at the Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin, for increasing the drying rate of wood. Several chemicals, including sodium bicarbonate urea and ammonium carbonate may be applied in any one of several ways: by piling the green wood with solid chemicals between layers, by soaking in solutions of the chemicals; by painting, dipping, brushing, or otherwise applying the chemicals in a starch-thickened solution; and by pressure treatment. After the chemical treatment, the wood is kiln" dried in a conventional manner. The chemical treatment not only reduces the time for kiln-drying, but eliminates or minimizes water pockets and reduces the tendency of the wood to collapse in drying.
United Kingdom
· De Havilland's jet-propelled fighter "Vampire" has been from the outset an all-wood structure: a molded and glued sandwich of birch plywood skins with a balsa eve and with the structural members and smaller reinforcing parts in laminated Sitka spruce. The fuselage has proved equal to the stresses set up by the pressurization necessary for high altitude flying [in 1948 it set an international height record of 59,446 feet (18,119 m.)], to the damp heat of the Far East and temperatures as low as -45° F. (-42.8° C.) or even - 100° F. (-73.3° C.) at high altitudes.
United States of America
· According to the 1949 report of the Northern Rocky Mountain Forest and Experiment Station, co-operative studies show that cattle rations containing wood molasses were as effective in producing weight gains as those containing cane molasses, and for sheep similar results have been obtained.
· Based on studies made in co-operation with the U.S. Forest Service in 1912, 1919, and 1928, and on a very careful investigation covering the year 1946, the New York State College of Forestry has compiled a complete list of the wood-using establishments in New York State, the leading wood user in the U.S.A.
In 1946, there were 1,620 woodworking factories using 655 million board feet of timber [3 million m³ ®]. There is a wide variety of factories with some at the top of their class; for instance, manufacturers of tobacco pipes, pencils baskets, and especially shoe lasts, and 282 furniture companies. This consumption study divides the firms into 59 classes of industries, each of which is described, with tables showing the amount of wood used in it; the percentage grown in New York State, subdivided by species; and the thicknesses and grades of principal woods (with a special reference to veneer and plywood).
This type of study is of interest both generally and for producers. An interpretation of the material given in the study, supplemented by some additional data, appeared in the November and December 1949 issues of the Industrial Bulletin, published by the New York State Department of Labor.
Australia
· It is reported that Australia is taking delivery of 1,000 prefabricated wooden houses from Swedish manufacturers. Swedish foremen and fitters will assemble the three and four-room houses in Australia, complete with all plumbing and electrical fittings, fully equipped kitchens, and bathrooms.
Austria
· Three pulp and paper mill projects which are expected to substantially benefit Austria's balance of trade, strengthen her domestic economy, and provide additional employment have been approved by the Economic Co-operation Administration. These projects are part of the recommendations of the FAO Mission for Austria. The first project is for modernization of two mills. One of these factories is a fine paper mill and the other plant is a sulphite pulp mill. It is estimated that paper production will be increased from 8,000 to 17,000 metric tons annually and that pulp production will be increased from 10,000 to 16,000 metric tons. Total cost of this project is estimated at the equivalent of $2,647,000. Of this amount, $1,169,000 in ECA dollars will be used for purchases in the United States. The equivalent of $144,000 in German drawing rights, $75,000 in Italian drawing rights, and local currency equivalent to $1,259,000 will also be used for the project.
A second project involves replacement of two obsolete newsprint paper machines by the purchase and installation of one modern high-speed newsprint machine, together with the necessary auxiliary equipment. The total cost of the project amounts to the equivalent of $3,714,000, including $80,000 for ocean freight costs. Of this total, ECA financing for machinery and equipment will amount to $1,604,000. In addition, drawing rights for the equivalent of $549,520 were approved for purchases in Germany. Local currency to be expended is equivalent to $1,480,000. With the proposed improvements it is estimated that the plant production of newsprint, for which there is an increasing world demand, will be increased from 12,500 tons in 1949 to 30,000 tons in 1952. Through the erection of a new boiler plant and improved utilization of power, importation of black coal will be eliminated, saving approximately $250,000 per year.
The third project covers modernization of a completely integrated pulp and paper mill. Total cost of the project is estimated at the equivalent of $3 575,000. Of this amount, $1,129,000 will be financed by ECA for purchases in the United States. In addition, the project involves an equivalent of $221,743 in German drawing rights $218,085 in Swedish kronor and $81,650 in Swiss francs. The local currency cost is estimated at an equivalent of $1,925,000. The proposed modernization is expected to increase the chemical pulp capacity from 26,000 to 30,000 metric tons per year and paper manufacturing capacity from 10,000 to 18,000 metric tons per year. The contemplated improvements in equipment and methods is expected to bring about this increased production without a significant increase in raw material consumption.
Brazil
· Between 20,000 and 40,000 standards of Paraná pine arc being purchased on a barter basis, under the Anglo-Brazilian Trade Agreement of 1949, by the United Kingdom's Timber Control, against deliveries from the United Kingdom consisting partly of luxury goods. The price basis is reported to be £53 f.o.b. In British trade circles, satisfaction is expressed as to the feet that this timber can be supplied in 9 inch, 11 inch, and 12 inch widths.
Czechoslovakia
· During the five year period between 1949-53 Czechoslovakia plans to cut 55 million m³ of timber; of this 40 million m³ are conifers and 15 million m³ broadleaf species. This cut is distributed as follows:
|
|
Conifers |
Broadleaf species |
|
|
(Million m³) | |
|
Round timber |
24.0 |
3.2 |
|
Railroad ties |
0.02 |
1.6 |
|
Mining timber |
3.4 |
- |
|
Telegraph poles, etc. |
0.6 |
0.2 |
|
Other structural timber |
0.1 |
0.4 |
|
Fuelwood |
4.18 |
8.5 |
This represents an average annual cut of 11 million m³ Since the annual growth is estimated at 13.5 million m³ such a cut does not appear excessive. With a forest area of 4,000,000 hectares, the average annual growth per hectare would be 3.37 m³, a considerably higher rate of growth than in some other central European countries. The plan further calls for reforesting by natural and artificial means within the next five years of 231,000 hectares or at the rate of some 46,000 hectares a year.
Finland
· A plant producing methanol from wood and sawmill waste, which is dry-distilled under high pressure, has been erected at Imatra and has started production The output of the plant, which is the only one of this kind in the country, is estimated at 3,000 tons for 1950.
The greatest part of the output will be exported. The domestic requirements for methanol at present hardly exceed 500 tons annually, but it is expected that consumption within the country will considerably increase with large scale use of this liquid in the production of adhesives for the plywood and paper industries.
Malaya
· The export trade in Malayan timbers to "high-class" markets continued to expand, the graded exports for 1949 totaling 22,407 tons of 50 cu. ft. (1.4 m³). The figures for the first and last quarter of 1949 were 2,358 and 9,821 tons respectively. The rapid expansion of the trade began, in the last quarter of the year to outstrip the Forest Department's capacity to grade To meet this situation the timber inspectorate has been augmented and in addition the Department extended its training facilities to the employees of sawmills and export concerns. The private inspectors thus trained will be granted certificates of competency to grade timber under the Malayan Grading Rules, but their work will be subject to a percentage cheek by Government inspectors to ensure that quality standards are maintained. The Malayan Grading Rules were published in July 1948. There is no doubt that their publication has done much to stimulate overseas interest in Malayan timbers and has put the export trade on a firmer basis. Sawmillers have welcomed them because of their flexibility and because they now feel that the lower grades which must inevitably make up a large proportion of their output are at least catered for. Exporters like them for much the same reasons and buyers now know, without much possibility of doubt, what they are likely to get under any given grade and can adjust their purchases to fit end uses and so, it is hoped, please their customers. Probably the most important reason, however, for the popularity of Malayan timbers is that the United Kingdom has, for economic reasons, been forced to curtail drastically its buying in "dollar" areas and is looking to soft currency areas, preferably within the Commonwealth, to fill the gap. This is an opportunity for Malaya with its vast forest wealth to expand its export trade. Valuable though the "high-class" trade is, it is on the less exacting eastern markets that Malaya relies for a steady outlet for its surplus timber production Such markets as Aden, Arabia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Mauritius take large quantities of ungraded "run-of-the-mill" material. These exports totaled 46,345 tons in 1949, giving a grand total of sawn timber exports of 68,752 tons.
Poland
· The most recent forest statistics (194547) credit Poland with 6,200,000 hectares of forests; this constitutes 22 percent of its territory. The area acquired by Poland through the extension of its western boundary to the Oder river includes 2,500,000 hectares of forests. The principal cuttings during 1948-49 were made in these newly acquired forests because of extensive insect infestation that made necessary immediate sanitation cuttings and because these forests were less affected by the ravages of the war. According to the figures for 1949, the distribution of the forests of Poland by age groups was as follows:
|
Up to 20 years |
24.7 percent |
|
Up to 40 years |
22.6 percent |
|
Up to 60 years |
18.6 percent |
|
Up to 80 years |
13.4 percent |
|
above 81 years |
13.3 percent |
|
|
92.6 percent |
Seven and four-tenths percent of the forests were not classified because of their unmarketability.
A first 3-year forest plan (1947-49) was fulfilled and a further six year plan (1950-55) is now in effect. The country's total yearly timber requirements amount to 14,500,000 m³. The sawmill industry uses 9 million m³ the mining industry 2,400,000 m³ the railways 1 million m³, other transportation agencies 100,000 m³; the chemical industry 2 million m³.
In prewar Poland the annual forest growth was 2 m³ per hectare; soon after the war it was 1.4 m³ per hectare and now it is estimated at 2.12 m³ per hectare.
The foreign trade in timber is being handled by a central monopoly, Polska Agencia Djeva, which states that timber exports for two comparable periods in 1948 and 1949 were as follows:
|
|
Jan.-July 1948 |
Jan.-July 1949 |
|
(Metric tons) |
||
|
Timber products |
8,854 |
111,595 |
|
Cellulose products |
11,825 |
16,394 |
At the conclusion of World War II the woodworking industries of Poland were almost entirely disorganized. Soon after the war the large woodworking enterprises were nationalized and reorganization of the industry has been carried forward. According to some figures recently published in a Soviet journal, the industry is now being rapidly developed.
|
|
1945/46 |
1946/47 |
1947/48 |
|
(Thousand m³) |
|||
|
Sawn timber |
914 |
1,696 |
1,911 |
|
Veneer |
216.5 |
663.4 |
1,343.8 |
|
Pulp boards |
128 |
236 |
246 |
As the output of forest products to meet domestic needs increased, so also did their export and with the reorganization of the wood-using industries the character of the articles exported has also changed. What is now being exported are largely finished or semi-finished products such as furniture, especially bent furniture, boxes, veneer, etc. The industry is also engaged in mass production of standard prefabricated houses, doors, window frames, etc. Sawmilling also has developed. Sawn goods are being exported to some 25 countries. The greatest growth has been in the match industry. In the prewar years all match factories were leased to foreign interests. Today they are state-managed. Per caput consumption of matches is said to be more than three times that of 1938 and Poland has been exporting matches abroad since 1948.
EUROPE
· An article in Lesnoye Khoziastvo discusses the forest resources of Albania Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania in relation to each other and to other European countries. The forest situation in those countries during the period 1945-47 was stated to be as follows:
These figures would indicate that the southeastern European countries, with the exception of Hungary, are well forested. The 22 million hectares of forests comprised in their territories constitute about 17 percent of the estimated 130 million hectares total forest area for Europe without the U.S.S.R. The total for standing timber in the six countries is estimated at 2,300 million m³ and annual growth at 60 million m³ As compared to land in agricultural use, the forests in Poland occupy 34 percent as much land as that under agriculture; in Romania 66 percent, in Czechoslovakia 35 percent in Bulgaria 78 percent, and in Albania, where the area of agricultural land does not exceed 11 percent of its entire territory, 300 percent.
Forests in these countries have been greatly overcut. In Poland, for instance, in 1926-27 cuttings amounted to 35 to 40 million m³ a year while the annual growth did not exceed 17 to 18 million m³ In Romania 20 million m³ were cut annually against an annual growth of only 18 million m³ The same was true for the other countries. Timber exports, largely of unprocessed products like round logs, poles, pulpwood, etc. greatly exceeded the volume which the forests could normally produce. Thus Poland, after meeting its domestic needs, in reality could afford to export only 1 million m³ a year, but exported in some years as much as 10 million m³ Czechoslovakia, which could normally export between 1.5 and 2 million m³ a year, exported 6 million m³. This resulted in depletion of the most accessible productive forests. The present policies provide for repair of the damages of the past bringing the cutting into balance with the productive capacity of the forests, development of the timber and wood-using industries, and limitation of exports as far as possible to processed or semi-processed forest products.
French Morocco
· A decree of 12 September 1949 provided for a Moroccan Forestry Fund to be financed by a sales tax of up to 10 percent on the output from forests supervised by the Forest Service. This fund is to be used for the payment of subsidies, bonuses, work on projects, loans, and to defray the miscellaneous expenses entailed in forestry research and experimentation with a view to encouraging forestation or reforestation of government, community, or privately-owned lands.
The establishment of this fund will afford a substantial help in operating large-scale projects already under way in Morocco. Eucalyptus plantations in Particular are of increasing importance. It has already been possible to satisfy much of the demand for pitprops of the Djerada coal mines from these projects, and within a matter of years they can easily be expected to supply all the coal fields throughout the country. New plantations at a short distance from the Mamora forest now cover 12,000 hectares, with 8,000 hectares under eucalyptus and 4,000 under acacias and mimosas which yield tannin. Within about fifteen years, this afforestation work is intended to cover 40,000 hectares.
India
· The Government of India has constituted a Central Board of Forestry to secure close co-ordination in forestry matters and more specially in integrated land use and to help in maintaining adequate standards in forestry education. It will include the Union Minister of Agriculture as Chairman and the following members: the Ministers in charge of Forests in various States and groups of States the Secretary to the Central Ministry of Agriculture, the Joint Secretary of the Central Agriculture Ministry (Ex-officio Secretary), the Inspector General of Forests of the Government of India, and the President of the Forest Research Institute at Dehra Dun.
The functions of the Board will be: (1) Co-ordination and integration of forest policy pursued by States in the management of their forests; (2) The adoption of conservation measures affecting forest resources and soil, (3) Integration of plans for land use and national reconstruction in which forestry has come to play a progressively important role (4) Promotion of legislation considered necessary for various States for the management of private forests; (5) Regulation and development of forests in interstate river valleys, which are the concern of the Central Government; (6) Maintenance of adequate standards for the training of officers; (7) Co-ordination of forest research conducted in Central and State Institutes; and (8) any other matters affecting forestry, which are relevant to the objective of the Board. The Board will meet at least once in two years. The Chief Conservators of Forests and Secretaries to Governments will be entitled to attend meetings of the Board along with their State Ministers.
|
|
Total forest |
|||||
|
Area in millions hectares |
Percentage of total land area |
Per caput ha. |
Total growth in mill. m³ |
Growth per ha. in m³ |
Percentage of Conifers |
|
|
Albania |
0.9 |
32 |
0.88 |
1.3 |
1.4 |
40 |
|
Bulgaria |
3.4 |
33 |
0.48 |
5.6 |
1.5 |
30 |
|
Czechoslovakia |
4.0 |
31 |
0.30 |
13.5 |
2.9 |
55 |
|
Hungary |
1.2 |
13.4 |
0.13 |
3.0 |
2.5 |
6 |
|
Poland |
6.2 |
22 |
0.35 |
17.0 |
2.12 |
85 |
|
Romania |
6.5 |
24 |
0.38 |
18.0 |
2.8 |
25 |
(Editorial Note: The figures for Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland differ somewhat from those provided to FAO by these countries in 1947, and appearing in Forest Resources of the World. Most important changes are increases in estimates of average annual growth per hectare, and consequently of total growth.)
In the industrial and agricultural development of the country forestry has come a vital role calling for concerted action in such interstate matters as soil conservation and flood control measures, development of industries and standardization of timbers, evolution of forest management and legislation for the control of private forests, regulation of river valleys, and preservation of tree growth in headwaters.
Philippines
· A step to plug the leakage of forest revenues and to combat illegal cutting of timber has been taken with a new law giving the Director of Forestry better control over the operation of sawmills and closer supervision over the cutting and disposition of timber. There are 460 sawmills in the country, of which 196 operate without having any timber concession. As a result they have to rely on logs from whatever source is available and very often such logs are cut illegally and without payment of forest charges. Under the provisions of the new law no person, association, or corporation shall operate a sawmill without securing a permit from the Director of Forestry who will determine operating conditions.
United Kingdom
· A comprehensive plan for the development of the Scottish Highlands has been put forward by the Government, designed to encourage the principal industries of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and touring, the exploitation of national resources and the growth of manufacturing industries, particularly those based on local resources. In the next few years the Forestry Commission proposes to plant 60,000 acres (24,000 ha.). The forest policy aims at the establishment of 7,500 men in permanent forest employment in the woods alone. Plans are being prepared for the planting of 50,000 acres (20,000 ha.) by private owners. The Commission intends to spend nearly £5 ½ million in the Highlands in 1950-53.
United States of America
· On 25 August 1950 the President approved an act of Congress to provide for technical services to private forest landowners, operators, and processors. It will be known as the Cooperative Forest Management Act.
· The Society of American Forester' has completed a survey of the employment of its 6,408 members as of 1 January 1950. Returns were received from 60 percent of the members. Based on these returns to its questionnaires, the major breakdown of employment is as follows:
|
Employer |
Number | |
|
Federal |
2,420 | |
|
Industry |
1,560 | |
|
State |
1,080 | |
|
School |
550 | |
|
Self |
350 | |
|
Association |
140 | |
|
Local |
80 | |
|
Unclassified |
228 | |
|
|
Total |
6,408 |
In comparison with previous years, the percentage employed by the Federal Government is now 38 percent, compared to 55 percent in 1934; employed by industry, 24 percent compared to 11 percent; by states, 17 percent compared to 16 percent; by schools, 9 percent compared to 12 percent, and in other ways, 12 percent compared to 6 percent in 1934.
A further breakdown of the employment of foresters in the Federal service showed the following distribution:
|
Employing Agency |
Percent | |
|
Forest Service |
71.7 | |
|
Soil Conservation Service |
6.1 | |
|
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine |
3.7 | |
|
Bureau of Indian Affairs |
3.2 | |
|
National Park Service |
3.0 | |
|
National Military Establishment |
2.2 | |
|
Bureau of Land Management |
2.1 | |
|
Tennessee Valley Authority |
2.0 | |
|
Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and Agricultural Engineering |
1.8 | |
|
Fish and Wildlife Service |
1.6 | |
|
Miscellaneous Agencies |
2.6 | |
|
|
Total |
100.0 |
· At the close of 1949 the American Tree Farm System had spread to 27 states with 2,242 tree farms and a total forest land area of over 20 million acres (8 million ha.). The South led all other regions in growth of tree farms with a total of 1,150,000 acres (465,000 ha.). The program started in the State of Washington in 1941. Since that time the certificates of 82 owners in 9 states holding 233,000 acres (94,000 ha.) of forest have been cancelled due to failure to maintain the prescribed standards of protection and management.
· Use of the national forests for recreation reached an all-time high of over 26 million visits in 1949, an increase of 9 percent over 1948, and thus continuing the year to year increase which has been recorded since the end of the war. The use of improved camp and picnic areas totalled about 11 ½ million visits, and use of unimproved forest areas for hunting, fishing, hiking, and similar activities totalled nearly 10 million visits. Use for winter sports accounted for about 1 ¾ million visits. In addition, it is estimated that about 55 million motorists used national forest roads to enjoy the forest environment and scenery.
· The Golden Anniversary Meeting of the Society of American Foresters will be held at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. a., 13-16 December 1950.
An organization of 6,800 professional foresters in the United States and Canada, the Society is commemorating its fiftieth year by taking stock of forestry accomplishments during the past half-century and by anticipating developments during the next half-century.
· At meetings of the British Association for the Advancement of Science forestry forms a subdivision of the Botanical Section but sits under its own Chairman and arranges its own program. Professor H. G. Champion, Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford, reports that at the last meeting, held at Birmingham, England, 30 August - 6 September 19.50, the Chairman of the Section, Lord Bolton, gave an address on "Some Problems of Post-War Forestry," in which he stressed the need for more attention to the management and economic aspects of remedying the wartime excess fellings. This was followed by papers on methods of mixing hardwoods in plantations and the management of private woodlands by cooperative methods.
Discussions on the subjects selected for consideration at this year's forestry meeting are outlined below:
Effect of forest cover in water catchment areas. Papers were read by geographers and engineers as well as by foresters, and it was revealed that no precise information was available on the effect of afforestation of catchment areas in Great Britain. The catchments are mostly in relatively high hilly country the lower slopes having been denuded of forest while the upper parts are too high for it: they are usually grazed by sheen, and there is sometimes a relatively small amount of arable land, the water supply management authorities are rarely in full control of land use. Perhaps the most interesting matter discussed was the part that may be played by the Peat bogs which are frequently present. These bogs undoubtedly serve as storage reservoirs, reducing runoff until they are completely saturated and spreading the flow over a longer period after the rainfall. Afforestation, like pasture amelioration, ordinarily involves the cutting of drains through the bogs, thereby reducing their holding capacity. It was recognized that this matter calls for study.Climatic limits of vegetation. The rest of the Botanical Section joined in this discussion. The papers fell into two groups: one dealing with tropical vegetation, mainly the factors determining the distribution of the main forest types in Central Africa, and the other dealing with temperate climates and, in particular, the limit of forests in high latitudes or at high altitudes. The possibility of measuring climatic requirements in terms of "accumulated temperature" was presented and discussed. Several speakers referred to the importance of the "exposure" factor which they considered was not given sufficient attention in this connection.
Forest genetics. Professor Lindquist of Sweden and Dr. Syrach Larsen of Denmark stressed the importance of establishing seed orchards using the best available material and of vegetative propagation for preserving and multiplying important genotypes. Mr. J. D. Matthews described the progress made in Great Britain since work started in 1948 and staged an informative exhibit showing methods and procedure.
Rehabilitation of derelict areas. This joint session of the Botanical and Agricultural Sections opened with an address by Sir John Russell on the problem of restoring land which has been worked for gravel, opencast coal, iron ore, limestone, and clay. Rehabilitation involves engineering problems, as well as measures to replace the top soil and restore its fertility for use under agriculture or forestry. There are many thousands of acres of land rendered derelict by past working and subsidence in the neighborhood of Birmingham, which present particularly difficult problems. There has been marked improvement in methods of restoring the land under opencast mining through measures taken at the time the mineral is being removed from below the soil. Inspections were made of the areas concerned and the results of past attempts at rehabilitation. At present, every effort is being directed to restoring agricultural land to agriculture rather than forestry, while former woodland is often left derelict. Afforestation has been attempted in some of the older areas with varying success, greater success having been obtained with deciduous trees (notably alders and poplars) than conifers, owing to atmospheric pollution.
· The fourth convention of the Asociación Nacional de Productores de Maderas de Pino (National Pine Lumber Producers Association of Mexico) was held at Chihuahua, 12-14 October 1950. The convention was opened by the Governor of the State of Chihuahua who stressed the feet that forest wealth is one of the most important items in the general economy of Mexico and made an eloquent plea to the delegates to subordinate their interests in trade and commerce to ensure rational exploitation of the forests and the proper integration of national wealth. The Association is collaborating with the Government in furthering its measures for conservation and better utilization of forest resources; and to that end has created a forestry section with committees to deal with silvicultural studies and forest integration; waste, utilization, and industrialization nurseries and reforestation, and fire and pest control. It is also participating actively in the development of publicity through films and other media to foster a better forest consciousness in Mexico.
The Association has shown great interest in the work of FAO and hopes to participate actively in the expanded program of technical assistance. Mr. D. T. Griffiths represented FAO at the convention.
Mr. W. A. Robertson, forestry adviser to the United Kingdom Secretary of State for the Colonies, will retire at the end of this year. Mr. F. S. Collier, Chief Conservator of Forests, Nigeria, has been appointed to succeed him.
· Professor Vasconcelos Sobrinho has been appointed Director of the Forest Service of the Ministry of Agriculture Brazil. He is also President of the Council controlling scientific expeditions in Brazil, and is a member of the Federal Forest Council. Professor Sobrinho has been Director of the School of Agriculture and of the Institute of Agriculture Research in Pernambuco, professor in the Engineering School of the University of Recife, and has been on the faculty of Philosophy, Science, and Literature "Manoel da Nobrega." The Botanical Garden and the Forest Service of the State of Pernambuco were organized by him. His specialized studies have been botany, phytogeography and ecology.
· Dr. James A. Beal is the new head of the Division of Forest Insect Investigations, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, United States Department of Agriculture. He succeeds Dr. F. C. Craighead who retired recently. Dr. Beal has had wide experience in forest insect work in the United States.
· Malayan forestry has suffered a severe loss in the retirement, on medical grounds, of Mr. T. A. Strong, Director of Forestry Federation of Malaya. Mr. Strong joined the Malayan service in 1921 and attained the rank of Conservator in 1936. Three years later he was transferred as Conservator of Forests Ceylon, where he was responsible chiefly for the encouragement of research and, during the war, in the supply of large quantities of timber to the armies of the Middle East. Returning to Malaya as Director of Forestry in 1946 he was particularly successful in the difficult work of postwar rehabilitation in spite of an acute shortage of both men and materials. He was also mainly responsible for the organization of the ambitious forest-road schemes and timber research expansion that are being carried out.
Mr. J. P. Edwards, Deputy Director is Acting in charge at Kuala Lumpur.
· The Department of Resources and Development, Canada, has announced the appointment of Dr. H. Schwartz as Superintendent of the Forest Products Laboratory, Ottawa. Dr. Schwartz graduated in 1936 from McGill University with a B.Sc. degree in chemistry. In 1939 he obtained a Ph.D. degree in the Department of Industrial and Cellulose Chemistry of McGill graduate school.
