THE DOUGLAS FIR. 167 
ago, have stood the test well, and given, so far, the utmost satisfac- 
tion. We have also sawn up several large trees for boarding, etc., 
the wood of which appears strong, firm, and beautifully grained, and 
has been applied experimentally to various purposes on the estate. 
It would, however, as yet be premature to speak with any amount 
of assurance regarding the value of the wood as grown in Britain, 
no trees having attained an age at which the timber could be con- 
sidered mature. 
The following interesting experiments, conducted by Mr Wilson 
Saunders of “ Lloyd’s,” show the great superiority of the wood of the 
Douglas fir over the others experimented upon. Lengths of each of 
the woods enumerated in the following table, carefully squared to 
1} in., were submitted to pressure of weights pendent from the centre, 
the lengths being supported between standards exactly 6 ft. apart. 
The weight at which each broke, and the amount of deflection 
from the horizontal line at the time of breaking, are given :— 
Lbs. Inches. 
Douglas Fir, ; le 2280 4 Fracture rough and long. 
Pitch Pine, : Sale 280 4 Fracture short and even. 
| Canadian Spruce, SA Age 4:7 Fracture short and rough. 
Red Pine, . : » | 168 6 Fracture rough. 
| British Larch, . ~ t 168 5:2 Fracture short and even. 
| Deodar from the Hima- 
lays ‘ : 154 3°8 Fracture short. 
} | 
The specimens experimented on were carefully selected from the 
best description of woods and free from all defects. Each variety 
of wood had two trials, and the figures give a mean result. 
It will be seen from the above figures that none of the firs 
approached in strength either the Douglas fir or the pitch pine, and 
while these two were equal in strength there was this difference, 
that while the latter snapped short under a strain of 280 lbs., the 
Douglas broke slowly and toughly with a rough and long fracture. 
As an ornamental tree the Douglas fir can hardly be surpassed. 
The dark evergreen, yew-like appearance of this tree, combined with 
its rapid rate of growth and massive proportions, renders it 
admirably adapted for planting along the outskirts of plantations 
that can be seen from drives or walks, where it forms a striking 
contrast to other trees of a more light and airy appearance. 
Perhaps at no season of the year has the Douglas fir finer or 
more ornamental appearance than during the months of June and 
