162 HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES. 



hard and compact, and of a creamy-brown colour, though the 

 latter varies greatly according to soil, that produced on 

 gravel at higher altitudes being reddish-yellow, and much 

 harder, though equally light in proportion to the bulk. I am 

 much pleased with the quality of the timber of this tree, 

 and consider that it is quite equal to that of the silver fir, 

 but the quality and colouring is evidently greatly affected by 

 soil and site. 



A. Nordmanniana. — Oldest tree 53 years, but others 

 of 23 years and 18 years have been tested; soil in first 

 instance clayey loam, in second peaty ; cubic contents 47 

 feet and 22 feet respectively. Timber reddish-yellow, fine 

 and close-grained, and of excellent quality. Used for many 

 purposes both in and out of doors, where it has been proved 

 superior to that of the silver fir of even age. Specimens of 

 the timber from boggy land in Ireland are remarkably hard 

 and fine-grained, clearly proving that the tree is of great 

 merit for afforesting peat bogs. From the experiments of 

 nearly fifteen years' standing, I am confidently expecting 

 that the Nordmann fir will prove a valuable timber-producing 

 tree in this country. 



A. pinsapo. — Age 53 years ; cubic contents 47 feet ; 

 soil sandy loam resting on gravel. Timber of no great value, 

 being brittle, and soon apt to decay, and hard to convert on 

 account of the usually branchy stem. It resembles that of 

 the silver fir in appearance. 



A. Webbiana. — Age 23 years; cubic contents 21 feet; 

 soil rich alluvial deposit, in sheltered low-lying situation. 

 Timber white or nearly so, soft in comparison with that of other 

 members of its family, but unusually easy to work and polish. 

 It stood the changes of weather on an exposed shed for nine 

 years creditably. 



Araucaria imbricata. — Age 47 years and 52 years ; 

 cubic contents 38 feet and 5 1 feet ; soil in both instances 

 loam or gravel. The timber of these trees was of a beauti- 

 ful yellow colour, closely-grained, firm, and worked and 

 polished readily. My experiments prove that the timber is 



