106 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
of the crop, according to the prices now quoted in this country 
for firewood, works out at about 1000 marks for the Douglas fir 
and about 360 marks for the spruce. The above statements thus 
show that, when growing on the same soil, the Douglas fir, as 
compared with the spruce, yields about twice the amount of 
timber, with about three times the value. In reality the results 
are even more favourable to the Douglas fir, for present 
observation and experience show that its wood far surpasses 
that of the spruce in quality, and consequently higher prices 
are to be expected for it. 
The results of the experiments on the cultivation of the 
Douglas fir thus justify to their fullest extent the favourable 
impressions which this ‘species has everywhere made (see 
John Booth, Zhe Lntroduction of Exotic Species of Trees; and 
the May number, rgo1, of the Zeitschrift fiir Forst-u. Jagdwesen), 
and awake the wish that its cultivation should be extended over 
a larger area than at present in the great forest regions. 
THe Heap ForESTER OF TITZE-FRIEDRICHSRUH. 
AFFORESTATION OF THE TALLA WATER-CATCHMENT AREA. 
We are glad to learn that the Edinburgh and District Water 
Trust are considering the afforestation of the Talla water- 
catchment area. This work, if successfully carried out, would 
tend to secure a regular supply of pure water for the use of 
the city, and the forest would, no doubt, be made available 
as a much-needed training ground in practical forestry. 
Municipal forests, like State forests, are not exposed to all 
the vicissitudes which are inherent in forests under private 
ownership; and a well-managed municipal forest in the vicinity 
of Edinburgh would greatly facilitate the training of students 
of both the University and the College of Agriculture, while 
it would, at the same time, afford a valuable example of 
modern scientific forestry, which would be taken advantage 
of by landowners and others interested in the important 
question of profitable forestry. The forest would ultimately 
yield a steady revenue to its owners. _ Hon. Ep. 
'See also the Zeitschrift fiir Forst- u. Jagdwesen, 1905, p. 282, ‘‘ The 
Rate of Growth and Timber of Pseudotsuga Douglasz? in Germany,” by 
Professor Schwappach. 
