This paper deals with the effect of two growth hormones, IAA and IBA in
the rooting response of stem cuttings, rooting of branches by air layering through
the application of Seradix B-3, and bud and cleft graftings of six species in different
months. It was found that rooting occurred in four species with hormone applications
to stem cuttings ; of these, three species rooted throughout the year. In air layering,
four species roofed only in August-September. Bud grafting were successful in all
the species. Bud propagation in April-May was the most successful. Fair results
were also obtained from budding in November-December. Cleft grafting did not
show much response in any of these species.

Immature gamar (Ginelina arborea, Linn.) plants at about the age of 10 to
12 years become infested with loranthus, a parasitic plant, and ultimately die if a
heavy infestation occurs. Gamar of 8,12,16 and 20 years age groups, having little
timber value, have been studied for the manufacture of exterior grade hardboards.
Fibre analysis and solvent extractibility show that the wood will be suitable for
the purpose. Fibre length, flexibility coefficient, fibre diameter, relative fibre
length and other related factors arc better than those of many other tropical wood
and grass species. The presence of high percentages of waxes, fats and resins makes
the fibres naturally moisture resistant.
Additive chemicals have been used in the slurry for imparting water resistance
to the boards. Fire retardant and insect repellent chemicals have been sprayed on
the damp-dry mat or on the formed boards. Heat treatment and oil wax tempering
were followed by applying protective coating with urea-formaldehyde glue and
enamel paint.
Accelerated aging tests have been conducted according to ASTM procedures.
Board specimens have been tested for physical strength, water resistance and fire
rctardance. For charring tests, a device has been developed at the Forest Research
Institute. Modulus of rupture values, as high as 7000 psi, have been obtained.
Tempered boards absored as low as 4% by weight and 1% by volume of moisture.
Even after aging tests the boards were quite water resistant, though moderate
in strength.
Pulps have been made by Cold Soda and Steaming processes. Both soaking
and pressure impregnation methods have been tried in the Soda process. Steaming
for one hour at 140 psi steam pressure has been found to be the optimum in
the other process.

The numerous islands constituting the littoral
forests of the Sundarbans have been formed by
river-borne silts of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra,
the two main rivers of Bangladesh. The
forests lie between latitudes 21°30’N and 22°31’N
and between longitudes 89°E and 90°E.

The Bangladesh Energy Study, sponsored by the Planning Commission and
published a year ago, reviewed the estimates and surveys made of fuelwood
consumption and requirements in the country. It concluded that the consumption
of domestic firewood and other forms of vege.tativc fuels is unknown.
Since the use of wood as fuel far exceeds other uses in volume
importance a proper study is now considered necessary.
The paper describes the main physical, economic and statistical determinants
of fuelwood consumption in Bangladesh. It proceeds to describe survey methods
and strategy for determining this statistic. Supply estimates are then briefly
described.

Forest and forest products have provided food,
shelter, clothing and other necessities of life to
human beings since pre-historic days. With the
development of knowledge, men gradually discovered
better ways of living. Along with that they
discovered better uses of forests and forest products.
Thus, at different levels of the advancement of
human civilization, men have utilized the forest and
forest products in different ways to meet their socioeconomic
needs. While men of the Stone Age were
satisfied with their abodes in forest caves, eating
roots, shoots and fruits of trees and having the
leaves and barks of trees as their clothing, the modern
men have found other uses for forests and forest
products to cater to their socio-economic needs.
Forests and trees today, therefore help men in
agricultural development, industrial growth, economic
advancement, recreation, environmental control
and meet the demands of the human being in all
walks of life, from cradle to coffin. It is an irony
that realization of the importance of forests has
been quite jalc. Nevertheless, this late realisation if
properly implemented by different nations of the
world might save the human being from total
destruction. To arouse public consciousness concerning
(i) the significance of forest wealth (ii) the direct
and indirect benefits derived from the forests and
(iii) the importance of forest as a factor in nature
conservation the World Forestry Day is being celebrated
on the 21st of March every year indifferent
countries of the world. Bangladesh emerged as a

Urea formaldehyde resin extended with 0,50,100 and 150 percent of wheat
flour based on dry resin weight was used in the manufacture of three-ply 3/16″
thick plywood with civit veneer. Veneer moisture contents of 6 and 12 percent
and specific pressures of 150, 200 and 250 psi, applied during hot pressing, were
the other variables. The quality of glue bond was evaluated by the dry plywood
shear test and warm-water plywood shear test.
The dry test shows that with wheat flour extension, reduction in the bond
strength is statistically significant. However, even the extended glue mixes produce
adequate bond. The wet test shows that upto 50 percent extension, there is no
significant reduction in the bond strength but 150 percent extension produces a very
poor bond.
In the dry shear test, a significantly (1% level) higher bond strength is
found at 6 percent than at a 12 percent moisture content level although in the
wet tests no difference can be detected. This phenomenon can be well explained
in the light of the “Water-Monolayer Theory of adhesion”. According to this theory,
an adhensive adheres to the wood through a layer of water and the optimum bond
takes place when a monolayer is present in the substrate. This monolayer condition
is attained at about ten percent equilibrium moisture content for most of the wood
species. Wood, conditioned to six percent equilibrium moisture content, attains the
monolayer condition by absorbing water from the glue-mix. This is the reason of
higher bond strength of plywood made with veneer conditioned to six percent
moisture content as revealed by the dry test. However, during the wet tests,
plywood absorbs more water and thereby destroys this monolayer condition as a
consequence of which no difference is detected in the bond strength between the
two moisture content levels.

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This paper gives the experience of a tour study in the Sundarbans forest by
the author and Dr. Hubert Hcndrich, a West German Zoologist during 1970. It
also deals with the present status of wildlife population in Bangladesh. Some hints
have also been given regarding suitable sites for recreational purposes in Bangladesh

There are more than 500 tropical hardwood species and a number of grass
and bamboo species in Bangladesh. Only a handful of these are, at present, used
for the manufacture of pulp, paper, fibreboard and rayon. Sundri and gewa of the
Sunderbans and a number of hardwood species of the Chittagong area are used
for the manufacture of paper and fibre boards. Rice straw and bagasse are also
used for the same purpose. Besides, some bamboo species of the Chittagong Hill
Tracts and three grass species of Sylhet district are, at present, used for the manufacture
of pulp and rayon. Most of the other minor hardwood and grass species
have practically no industrial use.
In this study, 20 minor hardwood species and 20 grass species of Bangladesh
have been taken up with a view to determine their suitability for the manufacture
of pulp. Runkel ratio, flexibility co-efficient and relative fibre length have been
found out from the fibre length, fibre diameter, cell-wall thickness and lumen
diameter of the fibres. From those data the tensile strength, tearing resistance and
general suitability of the fibres for the manufacture of pulp and paper could be
estimated. From the Runkel ratio obtained, it can be predicted that most of the
species under study will be suitable for the manufacture of quality paper. Only
Kannari and Jaikkagola among the wood species, daloo and lata bans from the
bamboo species and nal, ikra and khagra among the grass species are likely to
yield moderate quality pulp.