276 On the Pldntincj of Forest-Trees, 



wliich gives an average of 85 feet in seventy-two years. In girth 

 they increase at the rate of 1 inch per annum for the first fifty 

 years, and 1^ in. for the remaining twenty-two years. In another 

 part of these memoranda it is stated that at fifty years old the trees 

 contain 26 cubic feet of timber ; at sixty years, 40 feet ; and at 

 seventy years, 60 feet. 



In 1806 the duke cut down 20 hirch at the age of sixty-four 

 years, all measuring upwards of 100 feet in height, and containing 

 from 80 feet to 90 feet each of timber, which was sold by auction 

 at 2s. Sd. per foot. In another instance 11 trees produced 1006 

 feet of timber, which sold at 3.9. per foot to the shipbuilders. 



Two hundred and twenty-three trees, of fifty-seven years' 

 growth, were sold to government, and measured at Woolwich 

 Dock -yard 40 cubic feet each, upon an average ; and 600 trees, 

 cut down in 1811, at sixty-four years' growth, produced at Wool- 

 wich 606 loads of timber. 



Fifty Scotch firs, and fifty larch, growing near each other, and 

 of the same age, were cut at the same time ; the Scotch firs ave- 

 raged 8 feet of timber, and the larch 30 feet! 



In these highly interesting memoranda the duke says that he 

 is quite of opinion that the final crop of a Scotch acre planted 

 with larch will be worth 1000/., even valuing the timber at half 

 the price which he actually obtained. In such an estimate, 

 however, it will be reasonably supposed that there is some source 

 of error, and this is the more probable from the distance (12 feet) 

 assigned for the trees of the final crop, which appears much too 

 near to produce trees of the scantling above mentioned, and upon 

 which it is presumed the calculation is founded. However this 

 be, these plantations reflect the highest honour on the memory of 

 the late duke, and hold out g-reat encourao:ement to others to 

 follow his noble example. The timber of this tree is very tough 

 and durable, and is applicable to a great variety of purposes, but 

 is more particularly serviceable in both domestic and naval archi- 

 tecture. Enormous beams of this timber were used in the 

 buildings of Venice, in her palmy days, which are said to be quite 

 sound at the present day, though the buildings must be at least 

 400 years old. So powerfully does this w'ood resist the causes of 

 decay, that even the twigs retain their toughness for years. This 

 beautiful and valuable tree flowers in March and April. The best 

 seed is procured from the Alps, which should be sown in April. 



The Scotch fir (Pinus syluestris montana) is a native of 

 Sweden, Norway, Prussia, the Alps, Pyrenees, Caucasus, and 

 other mountains of the south, as well as of Scotland. In the 

 latter country there are still the remnants of native forests existing 

 on the banks and in the valleys of the Spey and Dee, and a iew 

 other situations. The principal apj)ear to be those of Abernethey, 



