Teak (Tectona grandis) pressure treated with an oil-borne preservative was investigated to find its usefulness as transmission poles. The pole size round Teak was found to contain an average of 45 percent sapwood which is readily perishable by wood destroying organisms. Teak poles were treated by the Bethel full-cell process using varying pressure and duration to evaluate their effect on the penetration and retention ofthe preservative mixture of 40 : 60 creosotelight diesel oil. With the increase of both treating pressure and time the increase in penetration was not found to be statistically significant. The retention, however, significantly increased with the increase of pressure but the increase of time could not produce any significant effect.

A penetration of 1.57 cm with retention of 174.64 kg/m³ of treated sapwood could be obtained by using 8.81 kg/cm² pressure for 3 hours. This penetration is considered adequate to protect the sapwood region of the pole.

Bangladesh is blessed with 119 species of mammals (Khan 1982). The abundance of such a large number of species in a small territory has been possible because of a diversified flora, a characteristic of tropical forests. However, the existing mammalian population indicates a distinctly
deteriorating trend during the past several decades. No systematic survey of mammals has ever been carried out for the area now under the territories of Bangladesh. It is, therefore, difficult to quantify the magnitude of loss. Our knowledge is limited to some old records made by Blanford (1888) and Pocock 1939, 1941) and some recent works (Choudhury 1969, Mountfort 1969, Husain 1974, Khan 1982). None of these records is complete and uptodate and, therefore, further studies are needed in this direction. A reconnaissance survey was made during 1978 and 1979 to assess the status and distribution of some mammals of Bangladesh. This paper discussess the status and distribution of 21species covering 8 families.

An experiment was conducted to find the suitability of 28 miscellaneous hardwood species in mixtures for the manufacture of particleboard. The species were grouped into five specific gravity classes in increasing order based on the specific gravity of individual species.

The average density of the boards of Specific Gravity Class I (667 kg/m³) made from low specific gravity species is less than that of the boards of Specific Gravity Class V (705 kg/m ) made from medium and high specific gravity species but the strength ofthe former (178 kg/cm²) was observed to be higher than the latter (107 kg/cm²). The average strength of the boards of Specific Gravity Class V does not satisfy the ‘standard’ for medium density boards. Species of high specific gravity may be used in the manufacture of medium density board by mixing the chips oflow specific gravity specjes. The thickness swelling (22-35 %) of the boards of all groups was observed much higher than the optimum. This may be reduced by increasing the amount of solid content of UF glue and adding water repellent in the chips during the manufacture of boards.

Teak (Tectona grandis Linn, f.) has occupied a dominant position in the plantation programme ofthe Forest Department in Bangladesh. It is important to know the social rate of return from Teak plantation in order to evaluate the economic suitability of plantation programme and compare Teak with other promising species.

The paper contains discussions on regression of size variation of Teak logs on price changes. Government revenue is calculated assuming that the lot purchasers and the consumers have similar size preferences. Internal rate of return from Teak plantations belonging to site index 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 is estimated.

Fibre analysis, chemical analysis, pulping and pulp testing experiments were conducted on Muli, Mitinga, Kali, Orah and Dalu bamboos of ages ranging from 6 to 36 months. No appreciable change in chemical composition, fibre dimensions, pulp yields and physical strength properties of pulps could be monitored with increasing age. The results indicate that probably these bamboo species attain their maturity during the first year of growth. For pulping purposes, these species seem to be suitable for a twelve months cutting cycle.

Machining properties of wood are highly important in all woodwork for their selection for specific uses. This study reports on five machining properties, viz., planing, shaping, turning, boring and mortising offive indigenous hardwood species. The evaluation was based on frequency of occurrence of defect-free samples after machining operations. The defects were estimated by visual observation and the percentage of defect-free samples was determined. Of the five species tested only one species i. e. Toon showed high average to good qualities in different tests. In case of the other four species the qualities varied from excellent to very poor.

A brief account is given of the diversity and uses of rattans and the status of the trade. The need to conserve the diminishing resource base through cultivation is stressed.
Reference is made to early and more recent cultivation trials and to research on propagation. Factors influencing seed quantities and availability, seed storage and germination are discussed. Possible ages for transplanting seedlings are also mentioned.

The growth habits and yield, and growth rates of the commercial species are described. Factors affecting the growth of these rattans,the method of harvest and age at harvest are also touched upon.

The commercial species of rattans are discussed in terms oftheir silvicultural potential and sites for planting, and a call is made for the introduction of exotics to other areas in the rattan regions for plantation purposes. The problem of seeds for future plantation establishment is expected to be partly overcome by supply from existing plots. In this context, the need to establish seed orchards for this specific purpose is deemed to be urgent.

Hardboards were made from Baruna by steaming and cold soda processes. Modulus of rupture, water absorption and thickness swelling of the boards were determined by standard procedures. It is found that the boards made by both the processes are only moderately strong and poorly water-resistant, Cold soda pulps were found to be very slow draining.

Bamboo produces new culms from buds on subterranean rhizomes during the monsoon, generally from early June until late August.
Expansion of culms continues until October. Blight significantly affects culms in August, the disease being at its worst by mid-November.
Subsequently, there is little or no increase in the number of blighted culms.

Diagnostic symptoms of the blight are described. Coniothyrium fuckelii Sace. and Acrenwnium strictum W. Gams were the two most commonly isolated fungi from blighted bamboos.

Artificial inoculation tests have established that A. strictum (Herb. I. M. I. 278366) is pathogenic on new branches which developed from ground layered culm cuttings of Bambusa balcooa Roxb. at the Forest Research Institute campus, and on naturally grown culm of B. vulgaris Scrad at Nowapara, Chittagong. The pathogenic ability of the fungus is discussed.

Some species of bamboos produce flowers once in their life and die after flowering. The seeding cycle is said to be 6 to 120 years. Some other species produce flowers annually throughout the year and do not die after flowering. In order to keep record on the nature of flowering of bamboos, Government of India issued a circular in 1893 which has Gupta, M. L. S. 1952. Gregarious flowering of Dendrocalamus strictus. Ind. For. 78 : 547-550 Gupta, K. K. 1972, Flowering of different species of bamboos in Cachhar district of Assam in recent times. Ind. For. 98 : 83-85 Scngupta, M. L. 1939. Early flowering in Dendrocalamus strictus. Ind. For. 65 : 583-585 been incorporated in Bangladesh and other Forest Manuals ( Hasan 1973 ). For Bangladesh, there is no regular report of the flowering of bamboos. Hasan (1973) reported and analysed the flowering of 5 species of Bangladesh bamboos which flowered till 1973. Banik (1979) reported the flowering of “Baijjya Bansh” (Bambusa vulgaris Schradex Wendl).