68 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" As regards the quality of the timber, the tree appeared to 

 have had too much room throughout Hfe ; its timber was rough, 

 even in the basal portion of the log. In addition to the large 

 splay knots at the edges of the planks, the wood contained an 

 undue proportion of knots in the centre, together with many 

 small dead knots, here and there. Apart from other considera- 

 tions, the timber is too rough for any class of fine joinery. 



"The fast rate of growth exemplified in the maximum width 

 of half an inch to one annual ring, with an average of three 

 annual rings to the inch radius, has produced a coarse-grained 

 timber of woolly, uneven texture, difficult to work up. 



"At the moment there is little market for this class of timber, 

 and it is doubtful whether more than is. 6d. a foot cube at 

 the mill could be obtained for the log, flatted and cut to size. 

 Normally, it would be sold for packing-cases or for rough 

 inside carpentry ; or for any of the purposes for which ordinary 

 white deal of rough quality would be used. From a special 

 enquirer, and in view of the good width at the butt, it might 

 eventually fetch 2s. 6d. a foot cube. 



"Though no definite conclusion can be drawn from the 

 examination of one tree from a single site, the uses of the 

 home-grown Sitka spruce would appear to be in the direction 

 of wood-pulp, pit-props, and rough timber for estate purposes, 

 rather than big timber. It is extensively used in British 

 Columbia for wood-pulp. 



" With regard to the strength values, Professor Percy Groom 

 remarks as follows : ' Careful mechanical tests on the wood 

 have not yet been conducted, as samples seasoned in divers 

 ways are being kept in order to attain the same degree of 

 moistness. Judging by the specific gravities of this truly light 

 wood, the ultimate stress in compression of well-seasoned 

 perfectly cut wood probably ranges between slightly less than 

 3000, and slightly more than 4000 lbs. per square inch. The 

 latter value represents the minimum for Sitka spruce used in 

 aeroplanes. ' 



" From observations of a number of plantations of Sitka 

 spruce of varying ages, the side branches of this tree appear 

 to be extremely persistent, which applies in greater degree, 

 also, to Douglas fir and Japanese larch, under the climatic 

 conditions of this country. It seems doubtful whether even 

 the closest planting of these species will have the effect of 



