It is the policy of FAO to review here only selected publications which appear to have a direct bearing on the current work of the Forestry Division.
THE SELECTION OF TREE: SPECIES. Mark L. Anderson. 151 pp. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh and London. 1950. 12s. 6d.
In the British Isles, planting site conditions are extremely varied and complicated and, despite a large number of publications dealing with tree planting, no relatively objective practical means of distinguishing and classifying plantable site-types has been devised to serve both as an aid in the choice of tree species, and as a basis upon which to build sound silvicultural practice. Many ecological studies of vegetation types and of remnant native forest types have been made, but have not been reduced to practical form.
The current publication has been written to fill this gap and help avoid future mistakes and disappointments. The author has had 30 years' experience, during the last 18 of which he has tested on a large scale his earlier conclusions on classification of sites and on selection of the species most suitable for each type. Although dealing specifically with British conditions and problems, the methods developed are correctly believed to be adaptable to a scientific analysis of planting conditions and problems in other countries.
Many mistakes arise from making decisions on the basis of the theoretical yields in volume and value which appear to be obtainable from various species. However, the only safe basis for selection of species is the purely ecological one, and it is to this that the author mainly directs his attention. The planting area needs first to be studied carefully from several standpoints: the general and local climatic conditions; the general configuration of the ground and local topography and soil variations, and the inhibitory biotic factors such as the liability to damage by harmful animal and plant agencies, including mammals, insects and fungi. A simple method of forest site classification is needed in order to facilitate understanding of the site requirements of indigenous species, of the reasons for success or failure of introduced or biotic species; to avoid using species on sites to which they are unsuited to make safe comparisons between widely separated stands and localities and to relate treeless to tree-clad areas. Both direct and indirect methods must be used in assessing localities. Study and classification of the ground vegetation which reflects conditions of the site are important. More specifically, these conditions are soil fertility and soil moisture. The author sets up an arbitrary six degrees of soil fertility, each of which is subdivided into dry, moist and wet, thus giving a total of 18 site classes or locality units. Each of these has an identifying and identifiable type of subordinate plant community.
Having characterized the locality, it is next necessary to determine the species suitable for planting. It is advisable to avoid widespread use of exotic species which have not yet had a sufficiently long period of testing to determine fully their worth or adaptability. There are, however 27 broadleaved and 23 coniferous species which qualify for consideration. In the selection, not only the site conditions but the use of the species must be taken into account - that is, whether they are valuable primarily for timber, for soil improvement, for nurse crops or for storm resistance, e.g. as shelterbelts.
A knowledge of the natural forest types is important because of the indications it gives of local variation and of the tree species adapted to given sites. There are 15 main natural indigenous forest types.
In making the final selection, it is necessary to have accurate information about each species, covering its range and importance, ecology, qualities and uses as timber, results obtained in plantings, scope for use in planting, techniques of seed collection and storage, nursery treatment and methods of planting. One of the most valuable parts of the book is the compact analysis of each of the 50 species which is given along these lines. The author's general conclusions on each species summarize the pertinent information and, in some cases, for example the indigenous sessile oak (Quercus sessiliflora) indicates a little used species which deserves far greater attention. Combining the separate analyses of sites and of available species the author presents in tabular form a list of the species suited to each of the 18 site classes, and further subdivides them into hardy and tender species.
The final process of selection is to determine what species for a particular site class may be expected to reach productive maturity and to maintain or improve the fertility of the soil. The second step is then to determine which species having these characteristics is most likely to produce the greatest value over the calculated rotation. Finally the author summarizes for each of the 18 site classes the characteristic problems encountered in planting, such as the ease or difficulty of clearing and draining, the need for nurse crops, and the like.
This publication should prove exceedingly useful to foresters in the British Isles, in addition to serving as a model for similar work elsewhere.
GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA. N.T. Mirov. 362 pp. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. 1951. U.S. $ 6.50.
Russia covers about one-sixth of the earth's land surface, excluding the Antarctic, and measures about 3,000 miles (4,800 km.) from north to south and 7,000 miles (11,300 km.) from east to west. Within this vast area there is wide diversity in climate topography, soils, land use, and peoples. An extensive literature on the geography of the country as a whole and of its several parts has been produced by professional Russian geographers, but this is rarely available to students in English-speaking countries. The mere problem of translation with a sufficient degree of accuracy is a real barrier to obtaining correct information. The present book is prepared from Russian sources by a Russian who has done scientific work both in Russia and in the United States, who has a wide personal knowledge of geographic conditions in many parts of Russia, and who, as a forester, is particularly aware of the natural features and natural zones and types encountered when describing the geography of the country.
A general picture of the geology, topography, climate, rivers and lakes of the country, and of the peoples, languages and religion, is followed by an account of the geographic regions, following the classification usually accepted by the Russians. These are: the tundra, the coniferous forest belt, the region of mixed forests, and the woodland, prairie, semidesert and desert regions. Each of these broad natural latitudinal zones differs from the others, and each possess its own characteristic climate, soil and vegetation. The mountainous regions are more difficult to characterize because of their heterogeneous composition and because of less thorough scientific exploration. For each of the major regions, information is given on climate - particularly temperature and precipitation; topography; soils and vegetation, including forest types to be found there, animal life and the peoples who live in the region and their principal occupations. In discussing the forest regions, no attempt is made to estimate areas or give other information about the forests and their use and exploitation.
Similar information is given for a number of other regions, for example, the mountains of central Asia; the Caucasus, the Carpathian Mountains; the Crimea; the Ural Mountains, the Altai System and Kuznetsk Basin; the Sayan Mountains and Tuva Region; the Transbaikal Region, the mountains of Northeastern Siberia; the Far Eastern region, the Okhotsk Coast and the Island of Sakhalin; the Peninsula of Kamchatka and neighboring islands and the islands of the Arctic.
While the book is addressed primarily to students of geography and to the general reader, it should be of real interest to foresters for the comprehensive picture it gives of the species, types, condition of the forests, and destructive forces at work on them. Moreover, within the scope of a single volume it makes considerable factual material available to English-speaking people.
TECHNOLOGIE DES HOLZES UND DER HOLZWERKSTOFFE. Prof. Dr. Ing. Franz Kollmann. 1050 pp., 870 figs., 190 tables. Springer Verlag Berlin/Göthingen, Heidelberg and I.F. Bergmann, München. 1951. DM 136.
The well-known first edition of this book has been in the process of being re-edited since 1939; the new edition gives an excellent picture of the enormous progress that wood technology has made since 1936. Owing to the vast amount of research carried out in this field, Kollmann's monumental work is divided into two volumes, one dealing with basic science such as the anatomy pathology, chemistry, physics, elasticity and strength of wood and derived products, and the second - still in preparation - dealing with the industrial processes of drying, preserving, jointing, woodworking, wood modification and utilization of waste products. The present volume contains an excellent survey of the macroscopic and microscopic structure: of wood; of its defects, and of all wood destroying fungi and animals.
The chapter on Wood Chemistry begins with its submicroscopic structure, its composition and the currently used analytical methods, stressing the fact that until now no generally accepted analytical methods have existed so that the comparison of results of investigations in this domain is still very precarious. This chapter also contains - in contrast to those on mechanical properties - a condensed technology of manufacturing processes for pulping, saccharification, burning, distillation and gasification and a detailed section on chemical resistance and the corrosive properties of wood.
Both the physical and mechanical properties of wood are discussed thoroughly including much original research by Kollmann and his collaborators in the two important institutes under his direction, namely the "Reichsanstalt für Holzforschung" at Eberswalde/Berlin up till 1945 and the "Bundesanstalt für Forst und Holzwirtschaft" at Reinbek/Hamburg since the war.
Comparative tables of different national standards, a bibliography with more than 10,000 references lists of commercially important species grouped alphabetically by trade names and by botanical names contribute, together with almost 1,000 figures and a large number of tables to make this work a most useful handbook for research workers in the field of wood technology.
NORTHEASTERN LOGGERS' HANDBOOK:. Fred C. Simmons. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook N°. 6. 160 pp., illus. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 1951. $0.75.
Presenting the "tricks of the trade" in logging, this illustrated handbook should serve well to explain how the job can best be done. It describes the use and care of tools, the most practicable of the old and newly-developed logging methods and equipment, and In particular how important safety measures are to wood workers. The drawings throughout the book illustrate these safety measures well and show how simple precautions can play an important part in reducing the accident rate in forest operations.
The book describes in detail for the northeastern United States, the choice, care and use of the axe, the crosscut saw, the bow saw, power saws, peavies and peeling tools. It contains information on felling, limbing and bucking, skidding, log hauling in winter, construction of all-weather roads, and logging truck operation. An especially valuable part of the book is the 7 ½ page glossary defining the interesting, but often confusing, terminology of the logger's jargon.
The emphasis throughout is on the practical everyday "how-to-do-it safely" approach to each tool, piece of equipment, or method used and should therefore prove valuable to training programs for forest foremen and workers. Similar books have been prepared along these lines in several other countries more countries might well consider the desirability of doing the same for their particular conditions.
WOOD PRESERVATION DURING THE LAST 50 YEARS. Dr. H. Broese van Groenou, H.W.L. Rischen and Dr. J. vom den Berge. 318 pp., 60 fig, 76 tab. A.W. Sijthoff's Uitgeversmaatscappij N. V., Leiden, Holland. 1951. Fl. 24.
With the assistance of the principal research institutes of the world dealing with wood preservation problems the authors have endeavored to survey the considerable scientific and practical progress achieved in this field.
After a short historical introduction they discuss basic questions which until now have scarcely been dealt with - the natural durability of wood and the economic importance of its preservation. They next discuss the wood deteriorating agencies and the methods of wood processing. The second chapter deals in detail with almost all commercially important wood preservatives, grouped into oily liquids, metallic and organic compounds. The third chapter describes the scientific research carried out on these preservatives. A list of research institutes grouped alphabetically by countries gives a short survey of the main lines of investigation followed by each of them. Testing methods - still badly in need of an international unification - are clearly described and the selected bibliographies at the end of each chapter give about 1,300 references.
Sixty figures, 76 tables and a well arranged index contribute to the usefulness of this work.
O. E. E. C.
Some Publications of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation - Paris, France
POSSIBILITIES OF INCREASING THE USE OF TROPICAL TIMBER
This study, written by international experts, includes maps, statistics, illustrations and a classified list of tropical species. Available in English and French. Price French Frs. 240 Pp. 95.
AFRICAN TROPICAL TIMBER - NOMENCLATURE - DESCRIPTION
Part I gives the English, Belgian, French, Dutch, and Portuguese names of the main species of African tropical trees, and also their botanical names and category.Part II gives the trade names and a brief description of the wood and its possible uses. An indication of the demand abroad for each wood is included.
Bilingual, English-French. Price French Frs. 450. Pp. 421.
THE PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY IN THE U.S.A.
A comprehensive general and technical survey of the industry written by a mission of European experts to the U. S. A.Available in English and French. Price French, Frs. 1,000. Pp. 378.
AMERICAN FOREST OPERATIONS AND TROPICAL TIMBER PRODUCTION
A well-illustrated report by a group of international experts who studied methods of forest exploitation and development in sub-tropical forest areas of the United States and compared them with methods applied in tropical areas.Contains descriptions of operations and also recommendations.
Available in English and French. Pp. 88. *
THE AMERICAN POPLAR, ITS IMPORTANCE FOR EUROPE
In 1950 a group of European experts travelled over a vast area of the United States studying the cultivation of the poplar. This publication is a report of their findings for use in poplar cultivation in Europe. With photographs and tables.Available in English and French, Pp. 53. *
* Price on application from O. E. E. C., 2 Rue André Pascal, Paris XVI.
1951 Yearbook of Forest Products Statistics
Fifth Yearbook of international forest products statistics to be published by FAO. It contains 1950 official information on production and trade and revised data for 1949, as reported by more than one hundred countries and territories in reply to a standard questionnaire.
The statistical tables are preceded by a short text which gives some salient features of the 1950 world situation. World and regional figures given here include estimates for non-reporting countries in the statistical tables, the totals are for reporting countries only.
This Yearbook provides the most consistent and useful body of international forest products statistics now available. The tables cover the following topics:
· ROUNDWOOD
Total Output
Sawlogs & Veneer Logs - Trade
Pulpwood Trade
Pitprops - Output - Trade
· WOOD PULP, NEWSPRINT, PAPER AND PAPERBOARDS
Production - Consumption - Trade
· PROCESSED WOOD
Lumber, Plywood, and Sleepers - Production Consumption - Trade
· WORLD TRADE - Summary
Volume of Imports and Exports
Value of Imports and Exports
· COMPARATIVE DATA
Forest Products Balances
Per Caput Consumption of Forest Products
Forest Areas
1951 YEARBOOK OF FOREST PRODUCTS STATISTICS, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Bilingual: English-French, with Spanish supplement. Paper bound. 8 ½ x 11 in. Rome, Italy. Price US $2.50; 12s. 6d.
