RESOURCES FOR FREEDOM. A Report to the President by the Presidents Materials Policy Commission. 5 vols. Washington DC., 1952 $ 6.25
This report, known as the Paley Report, after William Paley, Chairman of the President's Materials Policy Commission, consists of the following five volumes:
I. Foundations for Growth and Security
II. The Outlook for Key Commodities
III. The Outlook for Energy Sources
IV. The Promise of Technology
V. Selected Reports to the Commission
In Volume I there is a chapter devoted to the recommendations of the Commission for making the most of timber resources. In this chapter is a very concise discussion of consumption and growth for the period 1950-1975, with particular emphasis on saw timber as the critical resource; meeting 1975 requirements with emphasis on the "two keys: technology and management". The recommendations cover protection against fire, insects and disease, specifically asking for larger appropriations by the Congress; research on management and utilization, educational and technical assistance for the benefit of small owners. advocating the expansion of present staff of farm foresters ultimately to the number of 2,000 expansion of planting on private land and establishment of forest credit and forest insurance. It also urges the revision of forest taxation laws by the States, and the regulation of private cutting by means of State laws which prohibit destructive cutting. Financial assistance from the Federal Government to this end should be on a fifty-fifty basis with the States. "If after 5 years there still remain important gaps in the State system of compulsory regulations, Federal legislation should be enacted authorizing the Federal Government to establish minimum cutting practice regulations".
The Report summarizes the prospective costs and returns of these recommendations, and concludes that the recommended increase (of about $ 77 million annually above the present $ 100 million now being spent each year) would be met jointly by the States and by the Federal Government. As to return on investment: "within the next 25-50 years this increase should add 10-15 million board feet a year to the supply of harvestable saw timber. At 1950 prices this would add $ 120-170 million a year to stumpage values.
"Thus it appears that by spending $ 77 million a year more, and making capital investment of $ 360 million the Nation could add at least $ 120 million and perhaps as much as $ 170 million to the annual timber harvest. Financially, the recommendations seem justified. At the same time they would assure continuing supplies of an indispensable raw material for industry".
In Volume IV there is a brief discussion of improved technology in the handling of forest resources, particularly in mechanical harvesting and handling devices, physical and chemical wood processing and hydrolysis of residues. There are two chapters devoted to improved technology of forest products, and in the building industry.
The final volume consists of special reports, devoting two chapters to the field of forestry and one to domestic resources.
It discusses long range timber requirements and the adequacy of timber, and reviews existing programs of private forest practices, public forestry policies and the role of public forests. There is also a chapter on the free world's forest resources which leans heavily on FAO's Forestry Division publications to supply information on world trade in wood products and forest resources situation in Canada, Western Europe, Latin America, Central and South Africa, North Africa and Near East, Southeast Asia, Oceania and Japan.
This chapter concludes with an interesting discussion on the expanding industrial wood output which can be achieved through the application of better forest management and the opening up of the forest resources of less well developed countries and expanding operations in underdeveloped forest areas. This is to be achieved by aid to underdeveloped countries, by the programs of the U.S. Government supplementing the efforts of FAO and other international organizations in this field.
This comprehensive report is an important milestone in that it relates the forest resources of an important country like the United States to all other resources in one complete picture of the national economy and places this in proper perspective to the world community.
TIMBER DRYING. R.G. Bateson (3rd edition), pp. 137. Illus. Crosby Lockwood and Son, Ltd. London. 1952. 15s. Od.
This book provides useful information to those concerned with air-drying or kiln-drying of timber. It emphasizes the importance of drying to the behavior of timber in use and discusses the various defects which may develop during drying. For air-drying, the construction of stacks for various types of timber is discussed. Exception may be taken to the statement, without qualification, that "sleepers are almost entirely cut from free-drying softwoods which are tolerant of severe drying conditions". This may be the case in the United Kingdom, but elsewhere hardwoods are used extensively for this purpose.
The design and construction of various types of kilns are discussed and well illustrated, and suitable kiln schedules for various timbers recommended. There is a noteworthy description of the construction and operation of a simple but efficient drying kiln, which was developed at the Forest Products Research Laboratory Princes Risborough.
For the specialty woodworker, who has occasion to dry small lots of many timbers after they have been treated in a kiln, the conditions necessary for a warm store are given.
As regards the behaviour of seasoned timber in use, the movement of timber with changing atmospheric conditions and means for reducing or minimizing this movement are discussed; emphasis is given to the behavior of seasoned timber in new buildings.
In addition, various seasoning problems, such as collapse in hardwoods, splitting and checking are mentioned, as well as the importance of reconditioning in correcting the warping which results from collapse.
DIE PAPPELKULTUR (Poplar Cultivation). W. Wettstein. pp. 52. Illus. Austrian Society for Wood Research. Vienna. 1952. U.S. $ 1.00
This booklet describes the growing importance of poplar hybrids for Austrian industries, including plywood, matches, wooden shoes, boxes and, recently, pulp and paper, also the continuous supply of which can be easily secured through poplar growing on about 25,000 ha. of wet soils, a small fraction of the lands subject to yearly inundations in Austria. It is designed to inform the practical planter and to guard him from failure mostly due to errors in the selection of site, planting materials and cultivation methods. Thus, an account of site requirements and cultivation methods is followed by a survey of the salient features of the many different kinds and hybrids of poplars, including remarks on their possible utilization and timber properties.
Austria is among the 16 member countries of the International Poplar Commission and aims to further poplar cultivation through the Forest Administrations and Chambers of Agriculture and Forestry in its federal states.
