QUALITY OF BRITISH-GROWN CONIFEROUS TIMBERS. IGI 



must be extended over a fairly wide field of investigation. In 

 the following notes 1 have been carefid not only to give the 

 age of the tree from which the timber has been cut, but also 

 the quality of soil on which it was grown ; and it may be 

 well to add that in the case of experiments, none of less than 

 seven years' standing will be recorded. Greater attention, 

 too, has been bestowed on such species as produce timber of 

 sufficient size and of the best quality for economic purposes 

 The arrangement is alphabetical : — 



Abies cephalonica.— Age 33 years; cubic contents 

 27 feet ; soil gravelly loam. Timber of good quality, and 

 where it has been used in out-door work for eleven years, 

 seems at present in an equally good state with Scotch pine of 

 the same age. The wood is yellowish-white, firm, medium in 

 weight, and, owing to the quantity of resin it contains, works 

 smoothly, and takes a good polish. Used for forming side of 

 temporary shed. 



A. grand is. — Age 49 years ; cubic contents j^^ feet ; soil 

 gravelly loam, with a foot-thick coating of decayed vegetable 

 matter. Timber of excellent quality, very weighty, resinous, 

 and the concentric rings closely packed. Used for boarding 

 both in and out of doors during the past eleven years, and 

 given general satisfaction. The balsamic fragrance from the 

 beautiful yellowish-white wood was, at the time of felling, 

 distinctly perceptible for many yards away, and was com- 

 mented upon by the woodmen engaged in felling and remov- 

 ing the specimen. I think the timber is quite equal to that of 

 silver fir of similar age, but more resinous, and weightier. 



A. iasiocarpa. — Age 18 years ; cubic contents 16 feet ; 

 soil peaty. Timber much like that of the foregoing, and 

 equally dark in colour, but proportionately lighter. Lasting 

 quality not remarkable when compared with Scotch fir of 

 equal age. 



A. nobilis. — Age 42 years ; cubic contents 47 feet; soil 

 rich alluvial deposit. Timber of good quality, and for indoor 



work, at least, is to be highly recommended. It is light, but 



L 



