ments of the bark left between the clefts are usually, perhaps, somewhat larger than those of the white ash, but there seems to be a more marked disposition for the bark of the black ash to exfoliate in thin layers than exists in the white ash. While the branches themselves have a certain gracefulness of curve, the branchlets, on the other hand, are rather stout and thick, lacking in a marked degree the slenderness which characterizes the related species. The branchlets are cylindrical and vary in color from a dark green to a dark gray. The heart wood is light brown, or even white, and is surrounded by a darker ring of sap wood, having a variable thickness. The leaves are very similar in their general appearance to those of our common elder, and this, indeed, suggested the specific name, sambucifolia. They are compound and arise from opposite sides of the branchlets, each leaf having from 7 to 13 oblong or lanceolate leaflets which taper to a point, are sharply saw-toothed on the margin, acute at the apex, more or less rounded at the base, green and smooth on either side and have rusty brown hairs along the mid-rib in the spring. The leaves of the black ash in autumn are apt to fall rather early, and vary in color at that time from a lemon-yellow to a reddish-brown. The tree flowers in May and before the leaves appear. In this respect, however, it seems to follow the general disposition of its related species in our region. Whilst, occasionally, the two sexes are found, existing more or less closely related on the same tree in the black ash, I think we may safely say that they are more likely to be separated, and each tree to be either wholly male or wholly female. The flowering masses are dark brown in color and are wholly naked, that is, without either calyx or corolla. The fruit of the black ash, which matures in September or October, differs very much in type from that of the white or red ash. The wing is shorter and broader and the enclosed body of the seed is surrounded wholly by the wing and is rather oblong, than linear, in shape. The taste of the seed is said to be aromatic. The physical characteristics of the wood are that it seems to be tougher, more flexible and splits more readily than that of other ash trees, and for this reason is preferred by the basket-makers, and especially by the Indians, to that of any other species of ash trees. The geographical range of the black ash is from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, west to Lake Winnepeg, southeast to Delaware and the mountains of Virginia, has also been found in northwestern Arkansas.

Specific gravity, 0.6318; ash, 0.72; specific gravity of the heavier sap wood, o.7465; weight of cubic foot of dried wood, 39.37 pounds.

J. T. ROTHROCK.

Work at Mont Alto During 1904:

THE

HE year 1903 may be said to be the real beginning of forestry work at Mont Alto. True, a nursery was started in the face of very unfavorable circumstances in 1902 under the direction of a forester with one student assistant, yet it was not until 1903 that any definite showing or result was accomplished. During that year improvement cuttings began, and a revenue was first received from the forest; the protection system was put in operation; the survey was begun ; repair of old roads started; planting was continued; and the Forest Academy was established; 1904 has seen the beginnings start to expand with the assurance of an active force back of them and with the promise of a steady growth.

The nursery, during the past season, has been very successful, and at the same time has brought out several very interesting questions. There were in the beds white pine, yellow pine (Pinus mitis), red spruce, Douglas fir, white oak, ash, chestnut, horse chestnut, eastern and western catalpa, locust and a few of several other species. Some pines were under slat frames, some uncovered, but with billets of wood between the rows, and some with the beds mulched with sawdust. Those unprotected but with billets of wood between the rows did as well as those under shade, however; those mulched with sawdust did very little good. Notwithstanding the moisture of the season at times, very few of the pines damped off. All of the white pines, both 1 and 2 years old, were from seed gathered in the locality, and did very much better than that bought in the west or that from the east. The Douglas fir made a better growth than the 1-year-old white pine, but the yellow pine did not quite equal it. The red spruce gave the most unsatisfactory results. the spring of 1903 one of the State Foresters of New York sent down two pounds of seed. They were carefully planted and the beds covered with lath frames. A better germination could not be wanted. The rows of little plants were so even and full that they made the beds look beautiful, but after the first wet spell they began damping off, and by the end of 1903 over half were lost. Notwithstanding frequent working, careful watch over the shade, and an occasional sprinkling of dry sand on the beds during 1904, a moss continued to overrun the beds and seemed to injure the spruce. As a result, out of about 30,000 seedlings or more at first, only about 3000 were taken out this fall to be transplanted next spring.

In

Four pounds of western catalpa seed were donated to the work, but out of these four pounds of seed not one grew. They came from the west and

seemed to be good. They were planted carefully, but with no success. Two pounds of catalpa seed were purchased from Thorburn & Company in New York and put into the ground at the same time and under the same conditions. Apparently every seed in these two pounds grew. They came up in about a week after planting in April, and by September had reached an average height of 25 inches. Some were over 30 inches high. The seedlings in the beds were too close, and there was no way to utilize the beds in which the other four pounds of seed had been sown, so a thinning was made in the nursery. The plants were rudely pulled out when about 6 to 8 inches high, the care taken being to avoid injury to the ones undisturbed, and transplanted by using the dibble. This was on some very hot days in July. The transplants were watered once or twice and shade was given to a few; most of them, however, had no shade whatever. The unusual change in conditions did not kill the plants at all, but merely retarded their growth,—only about 1 per cent. dying. In about two weeks all the old leaves had withered and dropped off and new ones were forming. By fall these transplants were on an average only half as high as those not transplanted, but had heavy stems, well barked and a splendid root system. These will be planted in the coming spring, together with those not transplanted, and their relative growth compared.

The oppo

It has usually been stated that western catalpa is not subject to attack from insects. site is what experience showed here. No less than seven different caterpillars were found upon western catalpa seedlings, the most destructive ones being the catalpa worm, common on eastern catalpa. Bordeaux mixture with salt was used several times, and prevented any damage being done.

Some eastern catalpa, 1 year old, transplanted in the spring made as much as 4 feet of additional growth.

From a small quantity of black locust seed gathered during the winter of 1902 and 1903, about 500 seedlings were raised. These seeds were first scalded and then allowed to stand in water for several days before planting. About 50 per cent. to 60 per cent. germinated. By the end of summer they were from 24 to 36 inches in height. Most of them were attacked by the borer. A small injection of bichloride of mercury killed. the insect.

Notwithstanding the fact that the soil of the nursery was in very poor shape for nursery work, and is not in good condition at this time, yet our seedlings reach a size that is equal to or greater than that given ordinarily for average growths,

especially the broad leaf seedlings. It is altogether probable that the soil is still too clayey for the best success with conifers, but with constant working, additions of manure, compost, lime, etc., the proper conditions can be obtained and good results will follow. The growth of the pines this year was better than that of last year. This must be due to the better condition of the soil, for the seeds that were planted last spring were gathered at the same time as those planted in the spring of 1903, namely, in the fall of 1902. Difference in weather was not great and there was no difference, if any, in care. It is hardly possible that keeping the seeds one year longer would add to their vitality and as a result give better seedlings.

The

In all, about 125,000 seedlings were heeled in this fall; 25,000 will be transplanted this coming spring and the remainder planted in plantations. About 70,000 more are still in the beds. beds from which the seedlings were taken were covered with 2-year-old compost and with lime, and dug up in such a way that the frost will get a good chance to work on them during the winter. Lime was mostly applied to those beds which seemed to be subject to moss. On some or the beds well rotted manure was scattered and mixed with the soil. Before leaving the nursery for winter, all the seedlings in beds were well covered with needles and leaves, and the conifers heeled in were also given a good cover of needles.

In the way of improvement cuttings something over 100 acres has been cut over, and over 200 cords of fire wood, 400 fence posts, 100 fence rails, and a few telephone poles have been cut. Two-thirds of the fire wood has been sold already, and it is being asked for faster than it can be put in shape. In addition to this over 900 cords of dead wood have been cut from the reservation. The green wood brings $2 per cord, cut and ranked; the dead wood brings 50 cents per cord on the stump. Now an engine and cut-off saw has been purchased and wood will be cut ready for the stove. No doubt 2000 cords of wood can be disposed of in this vicinity without much trouble each year; 50 cords of pulp wood have been sent away.

The dead wood that is being removed is what has been killed by fires in recent years, and that its removal is beneficial is shown by the results in one locality. In 1902 a fire swept an area of several hundred acres. During 1903 the dead wood was removed. Now the coppice growth is from 10 to 25 feet high, and is thrifty. In land adjoining, where dead wood has not been removed, the growth is neither so dense nor so tall and thrifty.

This year will see the end of the survey of the