A germination test was carried out to observe the effect of salinity on germination performance of seeds of kcora (Sonneratia apetala Bach.-Ham.). Increasing waler salinity caused a decline and delay in germination. Highest
germination success was recorded at 5 ppi and no germination occurred above 40 ppt. Salinities around 10 ppt appeared to be optimal for raising nursery beds of S. apetala along the coastal belt.

Seeds often possess structural features that affect/restrict germination. These may be due to impermeability of seed coat and other coverings that prevent movement of water and/or gases. Mechanical restrictions that prevent expansion and growth of the embryo may also be involved and such features arc particularly common in seeds of Leguminosae family (Maguire 1980). The seed coat of such seeds cither physically restricts growth of the embryo or acts as a barrier to the free exchange of gases and uptake of water (Duffus and Slaughter 1980). In such cases the seed coat must be cracked or sacarified to permit entry of water and hasten the germination process (Anon. 1987). It has been found that hot water treatment of legume seeds can bring about an appreciable increase in the percentage of germination (Champion and Seth 1968) by loosening the seedcoat. The present experiment was conducted to find out the effect of hot water treatment of seeds on the germination of Albizia lebbeck and Delonix regia.

Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz locally known as muli bans, is the predominant bamboo species of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh at occurs naturally in the forests of Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracis, Sylhcl, Cox’s Bazar and northern part of Mymcnsing. According to Gamble (1896), the muli bamboo is naturally distributed throughout Eastern Bengal and Burma from Garo and Khasia Hill to Chittagong and Aracan, and again in Tcnasscrim. McClure (1966) reported that the natural home of this plant apparently is “in the Hill
Tracts of East Bengal”. The species occurs both as undergrowth in many of the timber stands and as pure bamboo vegetation over extensive areas mainly on well drained slopes specially in the forest openings. It constitutes 98% of bamboo vegetation in Kassalong Reserve, 65% in Rankhcon Reserve of Chittagong, Sylhcl and northern part of Mymcnsing and more than 70% of the total forest bamboo resource (Chowdhury 1984). It is more or less an evergreen species. The clumps arc diffused and open producing clums at varying interval in all directions due to underground elongated (1-2 m) rhizome necks developed from the ramiflying sympodial rhizome system (Banik 1980). Il is interesting to note that the natural habitat of this species is restricted to the high rainfall hilly areas (250-600 cm per annum) of the world. The species with net-like extensive rhizome system might have been selected naturally in the region for protecting the forest soil from
erosion. Besides this ccologic importance, muli bamboo is the main raw material for rural housing and also die principal source of withes for making basketry and matting. The suitability of making paper by muli bamboo was demonstrated about 70 years ago by Railt (1929). In 1954, the Kamaphuli Paper Mill was established at Kaptai by utilizing the total natural stands of bamboos of whose M. baccifera provides 85-100 per cent (McClure 1966). Moreover, another industrial product, high quality rayon, is also being produced in the Mills by using muli as raw material. Thus, both from ccologic and economic points of view, M. baccifera is an important bamboo resource for Bangladesh.

During March-April, 1989 a sample survey was conducted on the attack by stcmborcr in the kcora (Sonneratia apetala) plantations of Chittagong, Noakhali, Barisal and Patuakhali Coastal Afforestation Divisions. The survey was made in the plantations established from 1967 to 1985 covering 76,624 ha land. The purpose of the survey was to estimate the overall intensity of infestation in different Coastal Afforestation Divisions as well as to establish relationships of the infestation will) some other parameters.

A point sampling method was followed for the survey. The results showed that stocking of kcora trees per hectare was 1645 of which 851 were
infested by stcmborcr. The overall infestation was estimated to be 52% with an average of 61%, 59%, 45% and 44%. in Barisal, Patuakhali, Noakhali and Chittagong Coastal Afforestation Divisions respectively. Intensity of infestation was graded into three groups, viz., slight, moderate and severe. Severely attacked portion showed the highest infestation (22%) compared to tiic slightly (13%) and moderately attacked trees (17%).

A number of qualitative characters, such as plantation composition, plantation age, canopy density and total inundation duration were studied
towards their degree of association with the infestation. Age of die plantations did not show any correlation with the intensity of infestation while inundation duration and plantation composition had significant effects on it.

Data collected from twelve permanent sample plots (PSP) in the Sundarbans mangrove forest on seedling regeneration from 1981 to 1987 indicated two main problems i.c., appearance of insufficient number of seedlings compared to die vast area of seedling regeneration and failure of seedlings to survive and establish themselves. Average number of seedlings appearing per year was 35,625/ha. There was, of course, wide variation in the availability of seedlings among the plots located in different representative areas of the forest. Of the total new seedlings, Heritiera fomes constituted 41.27%; and Excoecaria agallocha 54% while the remaining 4.73% were seedlings of other species.

Any decreasing trend in yearly appearance ofseedlings was not noticed. Salinity of the area might influence the regeneration which decreased with increasing soil salinity. Relationship between regeneration status and number of standing trees was found insignificant. In some plots, seedlings appeared abundantly. However, seedling halflife for H. fomes in less saline and strongly saline areas was 11.15 and 10.10 months
respectively and for E.agallocha 7.15 and 11.80 months respectively. Seedlings of other species completely disappeared within 27 months. Factors other than salinity might also be involved in matters of survival of seedlings.

One soil series, Hyanko covering 75% of the land and one soil complex, Hyanko Rangamati with 50% occurrence of the Rangamati scries in the remaining portion were recognized from a detailed soil survey of Hyanko Seed Orchard Centre of BFRI and the adjoining 1976 teak plantation and mapped on phase level. The Hyanko scries has been classified as Plinthic Palcustults and the Rangamali scries as Typic Dystrochrcpts. Hyanko scries contains ironmanganese nodules to the extent of 15% in the upper 100 cm. Although the soil fertility is low, the planted gamar ramcis arc growing successfully and do not show much variation in growth except on eroded phase. Similar land can be utilized by introducing nitrogen fixing short rotation fuel wood species on eroded phase and economically important timber trees on gently sloping to moderately steep and smooth relief phases even without manuring.

A study of three broadleaf species growing on hills of Chittagong University campus showed that height and diameter growth diminish as one moves up the hill. The rate of diminution can be predicted by using separate logarithmic functions developed for each species. Some recommendations arc made on species selection and future management considerations.

A stake-yard test on 28 indigenous species was carried out to determine their natural durability. The test consisted of burying standard size timber specimens under the ground and recording the lime taken to decay. Based on the result durability classification of these Limbers has been made and suggestions arc made for their uses in practice. Since durability of a timber often dictates its preservative treatment, treatability of the same is also furnished along with this classification. It is found that non-durable Limbers arc more easily treatable than the durable ones.

Butterflies of the families Satyridac and Acracidac, collected from different forest areas of Bangladesh, have been identified. In Satyridac, there are ten species belonging to six genera. These include : Mycalesis mystes, M.
persons, M. sp., Elymnias hypermnestra, Melanitis leda, Orsotrioena medus, Erebia nirniala, E. narasingha, Ypthima chcnui and Y. philomela. In Acracidac, there is only one species, viz. Acraca violae. A taxonomic key has been developed for distinguishing the families, genera and species. The locality of collection of each species in different forest areas and its importance to forestry in Bangladesh have been noted.

Lignin was isolated from Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea; Bengali : arhar). Lignosulphonic acid resin was prepared from this lignin and characterised by pH titration. This lignosulphonic acid showed titration characteristics resembling those of soluble strong acids. Addition of electrolytes to water increased the ion-exchange capacity. Sorption of moisture by lignosulphonic acid showed a gradual moisture gain upto about 80% relative humiduty which was followed by a sharp increase of moisturegam upto 100% relative humidity.