The Timber Trees of the Future. 



By D. F. McKENZIE, Forestkr, Murthley Castle, Perthshire, 



We may venture to guess tliat Abies Donglasii will sooner or later 

 take the place of our larch, and Alics Menziesii that of our other pines. 

 The timber of A. Doiiglasii is as durable as larch, when in contact 

 with the soil as a fence or other post or stob, it being in most cases 

 equally full of resin. It is also much prettier for decorative work and 

 house carpentry. Eoofs on the Gothic principle, such as the famous 

 roof over Westminster Hall, London, if done with the wood of the 

 Douglas fir, could not for beauty be excelled even by the best oak, as 

 it has naturally a rich mellow colour when of large dimensions. It 

 also lacks the bad qualities of the larch, as it does not twist or warp, 

 and is not, so far as has yet been ascertained, liable to any disease in 

 this country, while it produces nearly double the bulk of timber in a 

 given time. 



Abies Menziesii is also a rapid growing timber tree of large dimcDsions, 

 and though described as only growing from " 50 to 70 feet high " [70 

 to 80 feet, Gordon; 80 to 100 feet, Hort.— ^r/.] in its native habitat, yet 

 it is already about these heights in this country, although comparatively 

 a young tree, while the proportions of the trunk, and the general 

 appearance of the tree, bid fair to double the above-stated altitude at 

 no distant period. On account of its knotty quality it would, like A. 

 Douglasii, be useful for house carpentry, and any woodwork to be 

 varnished ; but this same quality prevents it from being used for beams, 

 or where any great strength is desirable, as knotty wood is iiot strong, 

 but if grown close in masses it would be more suitable, as, generally 

 speaking, its fibre is more elastic and tenacious than fir or Norway 

 spruce. Neither does it rot so readily as Norway spruce when in con- 

 tact with the soil, but I have had no experience of its qualities when 

 in continual contact with water. 



The figures given below will supply intending planters with data 

 to judge for themselves whether or not it is more profitable to plant 

 Abies Douglasii and A. Menziesii than larch, Scots, or spruce fir, 

 admitting that the first cost is considerably greater. What is wanted 

 now-a-days is a tree that will grow quickly into useful timber, to 

 supply the rapidly increasing demand. 



To plant an acre of Abies Bovglasii, 10 feet apart, with plants 18 to 



