April 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 271 



(1.) P. Douglasii, Carr. "The Douglas Fir" or "Red Fii." Sargent, 



t. GOT. 



The foregoing outline of the distribution of the Douglas Fir brings out prominently 

 the following remarkable facts : — It is the most widely distributed, not only of ail 

 American Firs, but of all American trees. It is spread over 32 degrees of latitude, a 

 meridional range greater than that of any other coniferous tree, excepting, perhaps, the 

 conunon Juniper ; it must thence possess a constitution that "enables it to endure the 

 fierce gales and long winters of the north and the nearly perpetual sunshine of the 

 Mexican Cordilleras ; to thrive in the rain and fog which sweep almost continuously 

 along the Pacific coast range, and on the arid mountain slopes of the interior, where for 

 months every year rain never falls."* The Douglas Fir is not only one of the most 

 interesting, but it is also one of the most valuable of trees ; its size, its capacity of 

 adapting itself to new surroundings and the excellence of its timber, all contribute to 

 make it one of the most impijrtant inhal)itants of the forests of Western America. It 

 attains its greatest development in the humid lowlands of Western \A'ashington and 

 Oregon, especially around Puget Sound and on the western slopes of the Sieri-a Nevada, 

 where the jn-ecipitation from the Pacific Ocean is greatest ; in these regions it often 

 attains a height of 300 feet, with a trunk 9 to 12 feet in diameter. t — (Veitch's Manual, 

 p. 480. ) 



iSurelv a tree like this is worthy of acclimatisation in N^ew South Wales, 

 l)ut care should be taken to select seed from a locality with climatic con- 

 ditions approximately similar to those obtaining in the locality in which it is 

 proposed to grow it. Some forms (/".y., var. taxifolia) are recommended f(ir 

 planting sand dunes near the sea. 



20a. Keteleeria. 



An anomalous genus close to Pseudotsuga. 



(1.) K. Fortanei, Carr. {Abies jezoensis, Lindl.) 



A large tree resembling the Cedar of Lebanon in habit and aspect. It 

 does fairly well in the Sydney district, and will certainly do better in cooler 

 localities. The best tree in the Botanic Gardens is in that lawn nearest to 

 the Federal Government House Grounds. 



M 25 (Sydney Botanic Gardens). 



21. Abies, Link The "Silver Firs." 



A noble genus of ti-ees, specially ornamental in their young state. They 

 are best suited for the colder districts of this State. 



(1.) A. ftmabilis, Forbes. "California Fir." 



This might be well tried. 



(2.) A. balsamea. Miller (Picea balsamea, Loudon). "Balm of Gilead Fir." 

 "Balsam Fir.'" Sargent, t. 610. Also Bentley and Trimen's " Medicinal 

 Plants." 



This tree yields Canada Balsam, used for optical purposes. 



Native from Newfoundland to Virginia. It is for the most part a swamp 

 tree ; "it seems to need a constant supply of water at the roots, as many die 

 in exceptionall}' dry seasons." 



* Silva of North America, xii, p. !)1. 



+ The British public have had for many years past an 0])portunity of forming an idea 

 of the stupendous dimensions attained V)y this tree. In the Ro3'al (Jardens at Kew is 

 erected a HagstafF brought from Vancouver Island ; it consists of a single piece 150 feet 

 in length, 22 inches in diameter at the base, tapering to 8 inches at the summit ; it 

 weighs 3 tons and contains 157 cul)ic feet of timber. The tree from which this flagstaff 

 was made was 250 years old, as indicated by its concentric rings. 



