THE DOUGLAS FIR. 165 
IX. The Douglas Fir (Abies Douglasii, Lindley). By Ancus D. 
WessteR, Forester, Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, Wales. 
There can be no doubt that in the Douglas fir we have one of 
the most valuable additions to our forest trees, whether in an 
ornamental or a commercial sense, that has ever been made. The 
rapidity of growth, and early age at which this tree forms a con- 
siderable bulk of valuable timber, renders all information bearing 
on its extended cultivation as a forest tree of much importance to 
the Arboriculturist. 
Although named in honour of David Douglas, the celebrated 
Plant Collector, this tree was first discovered by Archibald Menzies, 
who accompanied Vancouver, as naturalist and surgeon, in his 
celebrated voyage round the world (1790-1795). It was re- 
discovered, and seeds sent home in 1827 by Douglas, while collect- 
ing for the Royal Horticultural Society of London, and who 
introduced such numbers of valuable trees and shrubs from North 
America. It is a native of the North-Western coast of America, 
extending from Mexico to Vancouver's Island, and from the Pacific 
to the Rocky Mountains. In-Oregon and Washington Territory it 
is found in dense forests, growing to the height, it is said, of nearly 
500 feet, and with stems of from 7 to 10 feet in diameter. 
The habit of the tree and the quality of its timber, however, 
vary considerably according to locality ; thus, in British Columbia 
where it attains an average height of about three times what it 
does in the Rocky Mountains, the timber is highly esteemed, being 
clean and elastic ; while in the mountain districts where it seldom 
exceeds 100 feet in height, the wood has the reputation of being 
hard, resinous, and very liable to warp. 
In Britain the Douglas fir has proved perfectly hardy, of very 
rapid growth, a most graceful tree for ornamental purposes, and 
a valuable timber producer. I am, however, rather dubious as to 
its value for planting in exposed situations, for several experiments 
in this way have proved anything but satisfactory. Here, where 
the tree has been planted pretty extensively, a prevailing evil is the 
repeated loss of leaders, which, on over-topping the surrounding 
trees, are liable to be broken over, thereby giving to many of our 
finest specimens a flat or table-headed appearance. 
Along the outskirts of several mixed plantations, wherever in the 
least exposed to either the southern or south-western blast, this 
