256 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



stances, that it is with difficulty recognised. The colour of foliage 

 varies considerably in different plants, some being of a lighter and 

 others a darker green, approaching to blue, this latter colour 

 being by far the most ornamental, and only attained by such 

 trees as are favourably placed and more fully developed in the 

 younger stages. Under favourable circumstances the rate of 

 growth of A. Menziesii is rapid. It is not uncommon for 2 feet 

 to be annually added to the height for the first twenty-five years. 

 About 1^- cubic feet is the annual increase in the bulk of stem, 

 but this has been surpassed by at least one specimen of which I 

 im aware. 



The timber, although somewhat coarse-grained, is tough and 

 strong, and is used for a great variety of purposes, including ship- 

 building. We have cut up and used the timber of home-grown 

 trees of Meuzies' fir with satisfactory results ; it being of a 

 pleasing colour, easily worked, fii-m and strong in texture, and, 

 so far as our experiments extend, very lasting whether employed 

 in or out of doors. A comparison of home-grown wood with 

 that sent from its native country to the Colonial and Indian 

 Exhibition revealed but slight differences. From our knowledge 

 of this tree, there can be little doubt that as a valuable timber 

 producer and as an ornamental species, it can hold its own with 

 any of its kind that have found their way into this country. 

 A native of North- West America. Introduced in 1831. 



20. A. nigra (Black Spruce) has little to recommend it to the 

 British arboi'iculturist, either as an ornamental or commercial 

 tree. At certain stages of growth and when planted in peculiar 

 situations there is a ceitain beauty about this spruce, but as 

 usually seen in this country it is of meagre appearance and ill- 

 adapted for ornamenting our parks and woodlands. The timber 

 grown in its native country is of great value, but here the tree 

 rarely attains to large dimensions, and the wood is seldom vised. 

 Introduced from North America about the year 1700. 



21. A. nohilis (Noble Fir). — This tree is one of the hardiest 

 and handsomest of the group, and is becoming tolerably common. 

 Amongst the silver firs it is the most conspicuous and beautiful, 

 the deep glaucous foliage, regularly disposed branches, and by no 

 means stiti" outline being special recommendations. Few trees 

 are less particular about the quality of soil in which they are 

 planted. It is of rapid growth, the average annual increase in 

 height of several specimens of which I kept a record being 20 



