was one of phenomenal drought, and the abnormal fruit formed about fifty per cent. of the yield of that season. The summer of 1896 was more favorable, and there was but little shortage in the rainfall. During this season the fruit was practically wholly normal. May it not be a case of arrested development due to impaired nutrition? If this is true, it would probably also lead to the conclusion that the typical black walnut (Juglans nigra) is biologically higher than any of the species of hickory (Carya) and that the former may be consid ered as a development from the latter.

An effort was made to ascertain when the tree was injured and whether any connection could be traced between the injury and the appearance of the abnormal fruit. No information of positive character upon that point seems to be obtainable.

The leaves do not seem to differ in any essential from those ordinarily found on the walnut tree.

PARTIAL ABSTRACT STATEMENT OF TIMBER CUT DURING THE YEAR 1896 IN PENNSYLVANIA.

To Hon. Thos. J. Edge, Secretary of Agriculture:

Dear Sir: It is by law made the duty of the Secretary of Agricul ture, "as far as practicable, to procure statistics of the amount of timber cut during each year, the purposes for which it is used and the amount of land thus cleared as compared with the amount of land newly brought under timber cultivation."

I have, under your direction, instituted such inquiries as were pos sible, to comply with the above requirement.

About fourteen hundred circulars were sent out to the lumbermen of the State. Replies have been received from about half of them. It is unfortunate that some of the largest operators are conspicuous by absence of statistics from this report. We can only say that these figures represent in brief the information which we have received up to December 1st, 1896, and that a very large proportion of the timber cut remains unreported to us. This is the more worthy of regret, because it prevents such a showing to the public as would without injury to anyone, probably hasten legal relief and protection in which the lumbermen themselves have the largest financial interest.

The brief period elapsing between the close of the year and the appearance of your report makes it impossible to secure all the in