TREATMENT OF WESTERN OR CALIFORNIAN HEMLOCK SPRUCE. 43 



old, as by this means they can be protected, if necessary, during 

 two successive winters. 



The full cost of rearing under this method {i.e., in an open 

 border) does not exceed 5s. per thousand for two-year seedlings, 

 and the after treatment required is similar to that used for the 

 larch, Scots pine, or spruce. This being so, it may be reasonably 

 expected that the price of full-grown plants of Tsuga mertenstana, 

 grown from home-collected seed, should not much exceed the 

 price of larch, etc. 



The Western Hemlock spruce requires a situation moderately 

 sheltered, but will grow on any friable soil free from stagnant 

 water. It also seems to delight in a little side-shade. 



When young, the tree has a very striking and graceful 

 appearance. The leading shoot and the extreme points of the 

 lateral branches are always pendulous, and the tree resembles 

 somewhat in habit Cedrus deodara. Its growth, however, is 

 much more rapid than in that species, for it attains a height 

 of over 85 feet in 46 years, with a trunk fully 7 feet in 

 circumference at 5 feet from the ground. 



The durability of the timber of British growth has not yet 

 been ascertained, but that which I have seen cut up, although 

 of young growth, appeared to be hard, tough and close-grained. 

 To all appearance the wood seems to be as useful and durable 

 as either the Scots pine or the common spruce, and it is not 

 so readily affected by heart-rot as the last-named. Except, 

 however, in very favourable situations, I would not recommend 

 its use as the ruling species in a plantation. As a dependent 

 species in a mixture with other conifers there are few sites or 

 soils on which it will not thrive. In rate of growth, so far as 

 I have seen, it exceeds that of the common spruce. Although 

 the plants are somewhat tender during the first two or three 

 years' growth, after that age they are quite hardy. On account 

 of this, it is best to defer planting till they are about four years 

 old, when they will be from 24 to 30 inches high. The time 

 for planting should also be considered, and the greatest success 

 is got by late spring planting. 



It is hoped that the foregoing notes may be of some 

 assistance to those interested in the rearing of this species. 



