lO TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



in the woodlands as a commercial tree, probably those begun 

 on the estate of Durris, the property of Henry Robert Baird, 

 Esq., about sixty years ago, are amongst the most noteworthy, 

 and are valuable as a test of its utility for general forest planting ; 

 and if the results obtained can be regarded as what would be 

 the outcome generally of planting on similar sites and soils, 

 there can be little doubt regarding the capability of the Sitka 

 spruce as a revenue-producing species over the greater part 

 of the plantable area of this country. Of the earlier planted 

 trees, many have now reached considerable dimensions, stems 

 of upwards of 90 feet in height, with a girth of 6 to 9 feet, and 

 having their branches shed to a height of 30 feet, being 

 of frequent occurrence. In youth the Sitka spruce is liable to 

 develop strongly buttressed roots and a somewhat tapering 

 stem, especially on shallow soils ; but with the rising crown of 

 approaching maturity, the upper part of the bole swells out, and 

 the result is a well-balanced column, yielding in the process of 

 conversion the maximum proportion of sawn timber. 



The timber, of which an increasing volume is becoming 

 available on the estate for manufacture, is light, straight-grained, 

 satiny in appearance, and easily dressed. The sapwood is white 

 and the heart-wood a light red, a feature peculiarly its own, as 

 none of the other spruces in cultivation exhibit any difference 

 in colour betwixt heart and sapwood, but are white throughout. 

 The medullary rays, as in the case of Douglas fir timber, show 

 prominently, and impart a lustre to the finished article which 

 makes the timber especially suitable for interiors. It is not liable 

 to warp, is susceptible of a beautiful polish, and when varnished 

 mellows down, in time, to a rich yellow brown. For structural 

 timbers, such as beams and joisting, where length and 

 straightness of bole are necessary features, in order to obviate 

 great waste of material in manufacture, the Sitka spruce will 

 probably find one of its principal uses. Otherwise, it may 

 be used for any purpose for which Continental whitewood is 

 suitable, and locally, as thinnings of pole and spar sizes, it has 

 been found suitable for manufacture into curing-barrel staves, 

 dry-goods boxes, etc. On the Pacific coast, the Sitka spruce 

 is regarded as the largest, as it is also the most important, of 

 all the spruces, and is of great commercial value. Its timber 

 is used for a multiplicity of purposes, including structural work 

 of all kinds, interior finishing, boat-building, cooperage and 



