The effects of time of harvesting the seeds and the interval of sowing the same on germination was investigated in Garjan. Higher germination (95%) was obtained from the earlier harvests, as well as, early sowings. Much variation in germination was observed, even with seeds from the same collection, when the seeds were sown at different intervals of time. Only 15 to 19 percent seeds germinated when sown after 30 days of harvest.

Tropical pines have been under introduction trials in Bangladesh since 1961-62 with a view to building up a source of long-fibred pulp. Pathological observations in respect of planted Pines at Forest Research Institute Campus, Chittagong are reported. The etiology and symptoms of needle cast disease of Pinus elliottii Engelm. have been described.

Botryodiplodia theobremae Pat. and Pestalotia macrotricha KI. were mainly isolated from the infected needles. Pathogenicity tests were carried out. The results indicated that both the fungi were responsible for the development of needle cast of P. elliotti, the former having a dominant role. The disease, however, was not a serious threat to the crop and has not been recorded on other species of Pines in the campus.

Seeds of Ipil-Ipil imported from the Philippines were experimentally tried at Charaljani (Tangail) and Keochia (Chittagong) to compare
the growth performance of the cultivars.

Survival percentages of the three cultivars, K8, K27 and K67 at Charaljani were 96, 94 and 93 respectively, whereas at Keochia they were
89, 75 and 80 respectively. Height growth at Charaljani was almost double that at Keochia. The height growth after 140 days at Charaljani
was 63.5 cm, 35.5 cm and 38 cm for K8, K27 and K67 respectively. The above-ground biomass (green weight basis) in 9 month old trees was 11.34 Kg for K8, 9.97 Kg for K27 and 9.0 Kg. for K67 at Charaljani. These figures were better than those at Keochia. The plots at Keochia were, therefore, abandoned later.

The second assessment was done 5 years later. The average green weights of all the cultivars together were 10 Kg per tree and 52 metric
tons per ha with survival of 68%. An MAI/ha of 10.0 metric tons was recorded. The corresponding air-dry weights were 7.3 Kg. 39 metric tons and 7.8 tons respectively. The oven-dry weights were 5.8 Kg, 30 tons and 6.1 tons. The biomass production for K8 was 15.4 tons/ha/yr., which was significantly higher than those of other two cultivars.

A study on phonological characters of Silk Cotton tree revealed that the species commenced to shed leaves in December and became almost leafless in January, when it flowered. Fruits ripened in MarchApril and after shedding of fruits, new leaves and shoots appeared. Out of total dry matter of fruits, 21.1% was cotton-fibre (floss) and 12.6% was seed by weight. The average yield of cotton-fibre was 5.67 kg per tree per annum and the reproductive capacity ofthe species was found to be 33251.

Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Mucl. Arg.) is being rajscd commercially by the BFIDC to attain self-sufficiency in natural rubber in Bangladesh. Symptoms of panel-burrs and nodules, cankers, galls, secondary die-back and patch canker have been described. A brief review of their causes has been made. Preventive and/or control measures have been suggested for each of the diseases.

Sal seeds generally mature between the months of April and May. It may vary according to location. The seeds fall as soon as they mature. The germination of seed starts soon after maturity and it may germinate even on the tree (Troup 1921). When germination starts, the tip (apex) of the fruits splits longitudinally (at right angle to the pedicel of the seed) and the radicle emerges from the apex of the seed.

Germination percentage is influenced by various factors. Cockburn and Wong (1969) stated that germination percentage of Sal depended on the size of seed trees and collection of seeds from the tree rather than from ground. Troup (1921) reported that sound fresh seed had a high germinative capacity. Sal seed, however, rapidly loses its viability. Depth of sowing is also an important factor in germination. Cayford and Waldron (1969) found that germination depended on sowing methods and depth of sowing. Defective sowing of Sal seed in nursery in Indiahad led to low germination percentage (Singh et al. 1975). The present investigation was, thus, undertaken to determine the effect of sowing orientation of seed on germination.

The status and approach for expansion of rubber cultivation in Thailand is outlined. Major diseases of rubber in Thailand, their incidence and effect in general and the role of Phytophthora botryosa Chee in particular, have been described. Abnormal leaf fall ofrubber due to P. botryosa was prevalent only in some high rainfall areas in the west coast of the country. This disease was, however, found to be absent both in the plantations of seed source and in the nursery wherefrom budded stumps were imported to Bangladesh in 1984.

Details of the phytosanitary treatments and packaging of the budded stumps for shipment to Bangladesh are outlined. Survivality of the budded stumps both in the nurseries and in plantations around Khagrachhari has been found to be quite low. This is most probably due to the failure of the budded stumps to produce adequate new roots because of very late planting. Phytosanitary treatments had little or no phytotoxicity effects on the budded stumps. It is suggested that in any future programme, budded rubber stumps have to be planted in the early planting season.

A high degree of water repellency is obtained in wood modified by silanation. However, the degrading effect of HC1, formed as a by-product in the reaction, may not be fully offset by the use of acid acceptors or inert gases in the reaction. Tensile tests on microtome sections of Pinus nigra wood, treated variously with dimethyldichlorosilane, clearly show that chemical modification substantially decreases tensile properties of wood. Experiments with large specimens of the same species suggest that silanated zone is only superficial. As a result, most of the strength properties of the large specimens remain unimpaired.

The paper includes a field key of 12 species of Bangladesh Loranthaceae based on their leaves and indumentum characters. Brief taxonomic notes on vegetative characters of the species, their flowering time and distribution in Bangladesh have been presented.