226 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



XI. 2'he Douglas Fir (Abies Douglasii) in Scotland. By Dr 

 W. ScHLiCH, Professor of Forestry, Cooper's Hill Engineering 

 College, Staines, Surrey. 



Amongst the exotic timber trees which have been introduced 

 into Europe during the present century, the Douglas fir has attracted 

 more notice than any other species, owing to its remarkably quick 

 growth during early youth. Specimens growing in free positions 

 are believed to have laid on a mean annual increment of as much 

 as 3 cubic feet, while only 1 cubic foot, at the most, could be ex- 

 pected on a larch tree ; and even in a few fully stocked woods the 

 increment appeared exceedingly great. 



In the Gardeners' Chronicle of October 8, 1887, p. 427, an 

 extract from the Perthsloire Constitutional was published, which 

 drew attention to the oldest plantation of pure Douglas fir in Britain, 

 situated at Taymount, on the estate of the Earl of Mansfield, in 

 Perthshire. In the extract this plantation is spoken of in glowing 

 terms, but only a few scanty measurements are given, so that it is 

 difficult for the reader to arrive at any definite idea on the progress 

 of the plantation, whereby he can compare it with that of our 

 indigenous timber trees. Besides being of very rapid growth, it 

 has been claimed for the Douglas fir that it is not liable to disease 

 — an advantage, which, if it really did exist, would be of great 

 weight. 



Such general statements are often misleading, and I determined 

 to take the first opportunity to inquire somewhat more fully into 

 the matter. Accordingly during a short tour in Scotland in July 

 1888, I measured a sample plot in the Taymount Douglas fir 

 plantation, and I also measured, by way of comparison, a sample 

 plot in an adjoining Scots pine plantation. The results of these 

 measurements seem to me of sufficient interest to deserve 

 publication. 



The plantation at Taymount is situated about seven miles to tlie 

 north of Perth, in 5^}^° northern latitude, and at an elevation of 

 about 200 feet above the level of the sea. The ground slopes very 

 gently towards the south-east, and the soil consists of so-called 

 " stiff till," which, in this case, may be described as a loamy clay. 



