FORESTRY AND ITS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. The American Forestry Series. Hardy L. Shirley. pp. 492. Illus. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. New York. 1952. U.S. $ 6.50.
Since its inception more than 20 years ago, the American Forestry Series has reflected the growth of forest science as accepted by administrative organizations, the profession and forest schools In this excellent volume, the author gives a broad outline of all the questions relating to the development of the forest and its place in national and world economy, and handles them with the lucidity of an expert who thoroughly knows his subject.
Technical problems have been given only summary treatment, for the author's purpose was not to write a treatise on silviculture and forest economics and wood technology, in respect of which he refers the reader to the specialized literature on the subject, but rather to direct attention to the many and varied problems of forestry. The book is chiefly intended for young people, to acquaint them with the prospects of a career in forestry. As such, it will be equally valuable for educators and vocational guidance counsellors.
The author defines forestry as the management and utilization of forest lands and forest products for the benefit of mankind. This implies silviculture proper, forest economics and the many industrial uses of timber and secondary forest products. As to the usefulness of forests in general, he quotes the very pertinent view of a high U.S. Government administrator to the effect that forests are worth the money spent on their care and conservation because of their value in wildlife, soil and watershed protection and for the recreational and relaxation facilities they afford city folk, and that the timber harvested represents pure profit.
He then reviews the forest resources both of United States and the world the latest forestry achievements in the United States and proposed future programs.
The final interesting chapters are devoted to the profession of forestry: what branch or field seems most likely to fit the abilities and wishes of individuals; the kinds and characteristics of employers in each field the personal characteristics and capacities most likely to lead to success in each field; the probable conditions of employment and possible rewards in each; the kinds of formal training, both narrowly technical and broadly educational, best preparing men for chosen careers. All the opportunities for a career in forestry in the various administrations and public and private organizations and in the wood industry are considered in great detail and their advantages and disadvantages analysed.
DIE ROTEICHE (The Red Oak). Franz Bauer. pp. 106. Illus. J. D. Sauerländer's Verlag. Frankfurt a. M. 1953. D.M. 10.20.
The red oak, Querqus borealis Michaux, is a native of the east of North America which has also been cultivated in Europe, especially in Germany, singe the end of the last century.
The examination of experiments in cultivation, on the basis of 114 sample-areas and 15 comparison-areas for oaks in West Germany and Holland show that the increment of the red oak in the unmixed stand is characterized by quick growth in the young tree and a marked decline at the age of about 80. As, up to now, no other species of wood shows a similar development of growth in Germany, this process needs to be observed in sample areas over a long period.
Compared with the European oak, the red oak up to the age of 60 and on the same site provides about 20 to 30 percent more wood with a minimum diameter of 7 cm. But the growth of the European oak at a higher age is more sustained, and on favorable sites attains the same total produce at the age of 100 years, although in weaker diameter glasses. In addition, the oak-stems have a more full-bodied growth.
The wood of the red oak is less uniform in structure than that of the European oak, and therefore has only limited use in the manufacture of luxury veneers and furniture. It is, on the other hand, particularly well suited to the manufacture of carts, wheels and other construction requiring wood of high solidity, and it is for such purposes that the cultivation of the red oak needs to be developed.
The results of the experiments made to date in West Germany show that the red oak could make a valuable contribution to forest resources. Furthermore, its growing-capacity on poorer soils and its silvicultural superiority enable it to replace Quercus pedunculata and Q. sessilliflora, on many sites. For the individual forest farmer, in particular, it is the oak of the future.
PULP AND PAPER - CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, Vols. I and II. James P. Casey. pp. 1404. Interscience Publishers, Inc. New York. 1952. U.S. $ 15.00 each vol.
This two-volume work is based on the belief that paper-making is essentially a chemical process - a fact often obscured by the remarkable engineering achievements of the industry - and that too little emphasis is put on the fundamental chemistry of paper, its manufacture and its use.
Paper-making is an ancient art but until the last generation its practices were often surrounded by secrecy and development in technique was slow. Recently, go-operation in the sharing of ideas and large-scale employment of trained personnel by the industry have made possible an accelerated advance in all aspects of paper-making. Further advances are possible, and it is to the chemists who are now or will be concerned in them that this book is addressed. It presents the material in fundamental terms, but bridges the gap between strict theory and extreme empiricism.
In such a large and complex task standard scholarly practices are essential. Detailed documentation, critical review of text by recognized experts, complete author and subject indexes all appear to be carefully and thoroughly done.
The major chapter headings include: cellulose and hemicellulose; lignin; pulpwood; pulping; bleaching; fiber preparation; nature of fiber bonding; sheet formation; filling and loading internal sizing; surface sizing; wet strength; coloring; microbiology, and water. Volume II deals with the properties of paper, its testing and conversion into special products, use of statistics in the paper industry; pigment coating; printing; laminating and pasting; internal treatment of paper with resinous materials, coating with resinous materials; and resins. It constitutes an outstanding introduction to the utilization of natural and artificial resins in papermaking.
STUDIES ON BRITISH BEECH WOODS. J.M.B. Brown. Forestry Commission Bulletin No. 20. pp. 100. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. 1953. 12s. 6d.
Based on a comprehensive survey of 200 or more mature beech woods in various parts of Britain, this careful study provides not only interesting historical and ecological background information, but offers much in the way of practical silvicultural guidance in the establishment and management of beech.
The author ascribes the origin of present beech wood distribution in Britain to extensive planting between 1720 and 1850, although in the southern counties of England and perhaps in S.E. Wales, beech is considered a native species. Detailed descriptions are given of the life cycle of beech, relationships between flowering and fruiting and summer temperature, as well as spring frost; the distribution of beech in relation to climate and soil; and the influence of topography, soil characteristics and micro-climate on the form, growth rate and yield of beech.
Using ecological factors as a basis, the author describes practical systems of natural regeneration and compares them with systems used in beech forests in Denmark and Germany. Reforestation methods are also described with special to soil characteristics and local climatic factors.
The study brings out the importance of provenance in forest planting by showing how lack of information as to the origin of the seeds used in the early plantations renders it difficult, if not impossible, to appraise properly the cause of the form of mature beech.
The author is to be commended on the very clear style in which he has presented his material and for his selection of high quality photographic illustrations and diagrams.
REFORESTATION, TEORIA Y PRACTICA. L. Macías Arellano. Dirección General Forestal y de Caza, Mexico. pp. 330. 1952.
Professor Macías Arellano of the National School of Agriculture at Chapingo has made a useful compilation of the experience gained in the reforestation of Mexico. He discusses the objectives of tree planting programs and the factors to consider when developing a reforestation policy; he compares natural and artificial regeneration, planting and direct seeding, pure and mixed stands. He suggests guides to the selection of species such as climatic factors, soil conditions, purposes to be served by the plantations, and the adaptability to later silvicultural treatment, susceptibility to damage by fire, insects, disease, grazing and flooding.
On the practical side, the author explains the best methods of collection, extraction, storage, and testing of seeds, nursery establishment and practices, planting procedures, and how direct seeding is done. This book is undoubtedly intended as a manual for forestry students and for training forest guards.
The illustrations of nursery layout and of numerous forms of soil erosion control measures, as well as the diagrams of planting operations should find ready application not only in Mexico but also in the Central and South American countries.
FORSTSAMEN-GEWINNUNG UND FORSTPFLANZEN-ANZUCHT Ix Den U.S.A. UND IN DEUTSCHLAND (Tree Seed Collecting and Forest Plant Production in the U.S. and Germany). Ernst Pein. pp. 218. Illus. M. and H. Schaper, Hannover, Germany. 1953. D.M. 12.60.
This book is a record of a two-month, ECA-sponsored tour of the United States, with special reference to forest nurseries and seed extractories, made by Mr. Ernst Pein, senior partner of the nursery of Pein & Pein of Halstenbek, Holstein, Germany.
The author draws comparisons between United States and German forest planting and nursery problems and points out where each country may learn from the other. Certification of tree seed comes in for rather critical review. He cites Germany's sad experience of 50 to 100 years ago in importing "cheap" Scots pine seed from southern France where the short-bored trees made seed collection easy. When planted in Germany, such seed produced stands of crooked and inferior trees. Shortly after the turn of the century, the Germans began to introduce some measures to control seed origin by certification, culminating in the strict German forest seed law of 1934 which zoned that country into seed collection areas based on climate, and provided for certification of origin even as regards acceptable individual stands.
The author believes germinative energy is a much more important criterion of good seed than total germination capacity. He recommends storage of conifers in airtight glass or metal containers at 1° to 5°C. (approximately 34° to 40° F.).
He thought that the vigor of trees in United States nurseries was somewhat lower than in his own nursery and attributes this to hesitation to use animal manures because of danger of damping-off, and creation of a weed problem. Many nurserymen would do well to give this comment serious consideration, especially on brooks of spruce and hardwoods which have a generally higher nutrient level demand than pines. Used only on hardwoods or on transplant areas of conifers, or on cover crops, there should be no serious damping-off problem.
The author considers thinning of seed beds undesirable and uneconomic. Probably he has been somewhat misinformed as to how general this practice is in United States nurseries. Actually, in conifer beds, thinning is practically never done on a large scale, the aim being to attain stocks of 50 to 70 plants per square foot (150 to 210 plants per square meter) by thin sowing. This density is low enough to produce good conifer seedling stock for most purposes. Thinning has been done experimentally in accidentally overdense conifer beds merely to prove the point of superiority of trees grown at a lower density.
Progress in weed control methods in both the United States and Germany is discussed. Mineral spirits, which are used extensively in United States nurseries as a selective herbicide, are under test in Germany, but the high cost per gallon of these imported petroleum products and rather low per hour wage for labor will not leave anywhere near the margin of saving in overall weed control that has been found in United States nurseries. However, certain chemicals which could be produced in Germany might give sufficiently economical results to be justified.
The book compares production costs, labor, wages, and insurance, in the United States and in Germany; deals with forest planting and policies in the United States, shelterbelt and erosion control planting, and special aspects of American forestry and forest industries, including fire control, clear cutting in the Pacific northwest, wood utilization and wood waste, logging and transport mechanization, road construction, farm forestry programs and experimental forests.
J. H. Stoeckeler.
LOS CHOPOS Y SUS MADEIRAS (Poplars and their Wood), Vol. I: LOS CHOPOS Y SUS CULTIVOS (Poplar growing). E.G. Vazquez. 1953. pp. 318. Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid. 200 pesetas.
This, the first volume of a monograph on poplars, comprises a detailed study on poplar growing, illustrated by a large number of diagrams, maps and photographs and with a full bibliography. It is divided into two sections. In the first part the author describes the characteristics and geographical distribution of the different varieties and species of the Populous genus, and gives some indication of the principal nomenclatures in use. He then discusses the work at present being carried on with regard to poplar culture, devoting considerable attention to the work of the International Poplar Commission and examining the various experimental techniques and methods of selection. This section ends with a detailed description of the principal species and varieties, together with information on site, aspect of the leaves, habit and phenology.
The second part of the volume contains comprehensive documentation on methods of establishing poplar stands and on the care to be given them. There is also an account of poplar growing in the countries principally concerned, particularly in Europe and North America, and of the diseases and insects which attack poplars, both in plantations and nurseries. Finally, as an appendix, the author discusses a project for the creation of a national populetum in the grounds of the University City at Madrid.
At a time when most countries are concerned with increasing their timber production and are planning major afforestation programs, this work will be of value to all those interested in the problems of poplar growing.
