742 THE GIANT ARBOJi-VITyE. [April 



sent out under the names of Tlmia Mcnzicsii, T. Lohhi, and 

 Libocedrus chcurrcns), the tree under notice, T. ghjanUa, is the true 

 gifjantca first described by i^uttall in his Plants of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, the plant erroneously so named l)eing LibocedriLS dccurrcns — a 

 tree as widely different both in foliage and general appearance from 

 T. (jigantea as might well be. Libocedrus decurrcns was sent home 

 by Jeffrey in 1853, and named Tltuia Craigiana by the Committee 

 of the Oregon Association, they at that time not being aware of the 

 previous description by Nuttall. Carriere, believing that Jeffrey's 

 introduction was identical with Tlmia gigantca of Nuttall, dropped 

 the name of Libocedrus decurrcns, and gave it that of T. gigantca. 

 About two years after Jeffrey's introduction, Lobb sent home the 

 same tree, but Messrs. Veitch, finding that a T, gigantca was already 

 in circulation, and perhaps not recognising in his specimens the true 

 T. gigantca, bestowed on it the name of T. Lobbi. In this way 

 originated the confusion of synonyms which, even to the present 

 day, has never been got rid of, T. Lobbi and T. Mcnziesii being 

 but cdiascs for T. gigantca, this latter being now the recognised 

 and standard name ; while Libocedrus decurrcns (alias Tlmia 

 Craigia.na), with which it has been confused, is a perfectly distinct 

 and well-marked species belonging to an entirely different though 

 nearly allied genus. 



Tlmia gigardea is a majestic tree inhabiting the north-M'est coast 

 of the United States, where it attains heights ranging from 50 feet 

 to fully 150 feet, with a clean, gradually tapering stem of from 3 

 feet to, in some instances, as much as 12 feet in diameter. In its 

 native country it is highly prized, not only as a timber producer, but 

 for its bark, which is of great value in the manufacture of ropes, 

 mats, clothing, and other articles of domestic economy. The timber 

 is prized by the ximerican cabinetmaker, as it works readily and 

 takes a good polish, while most of the canoes made on Vancouver's 

 Island are cut out of it, as also boats and ships ; while for lasting 

 qualities it can surpass most of the native timbers, for we have been 

 told that in repairing an old fort the only log found sound after 

 twenty-one years' trial of those used for " underpinning " was a stock 

 of this. In this country, Tlmia gigantca has proved itself to be a 

 tree of very rapid growth, for already, though only five-and-tliirty 

 years introduced, many specimens of 70 feet and upwards are to be 

 met with, thus proving that the climate of Britain is well suited for 

 the development of this stately, fast-growing tree. On this estate 

 the annual rate of growth exceeds that of most other trees, though, 

 perhaps, the increase in bulk of stem may be somewhat deficient, 

 trees of 60 feet in height usually girthing about 4 feet at a yard 

 from the ground, the straight, clean stents terminating in a leading 



