QUALITY OF BRITISH-GROWN CONIFEROUS TIMBERS. lH 



but as furniture and room-panelling the home-grown wood 

 seems to be peculiarly suitable. 



Taxodium distichum. — Age unknown; cubic con- 

 tents 34 feet ; soil black, damp loam. Timber brown, light, 

 but very fine-grained, and works smoothly. 



I am much taken with the timber of the deciduous cypress, 

 but, unfortunately, my experiments are hardly worth detail- 

 ing. Indoors it has stood well ; outdoors fairly well for the 

 period of time. 



Taxus baccata. — Age up to 1 50 years. Timber ex- 

 ceedingly hard, weighty, and close-grained. It is of a pleasing 

 deep reddish-brown colour, tough, elastic, and susceptible of 

 a high polish. Not much in demand, unless when offered in 

 large quantities. 



Thuya gfig^antea. — Age 31 years; cubic contents 31 

 feet ; soil rich and suitable. Timber of a pleasing yellow 

 colour, fine-grained, light in proportion to the bulk, and very 

 readily cut up and worked. My experiments with the wood for 

 fencing purposes are not very encouraging, but then it must be 

 remembered that it was far from mature — in fact, could only 

 be considered as in a juvenile state. Where used for indoor 

 work, the results are favourable. I consider the tree one of the 

 greatest value for the quick production of fairly good timber. 



Tsug^a canadensis, — Age 53 years ; cubic contents 

 37 feet ; soil rich, damp loam ; sheltered. Timber hard, 

 heavy, rough-grained, and inclined to splinter. It works 

 well, and takes on a good polish. The slower-grown timber 

 seems to be hardest and finest of grain ; that of old, rapidly- 

 grown trees being crooked and rough. 



T, Mertensiana. — Age 28 years ; cubic contents 31 

 feet ; soil good rich loam ; sheltered position. Timber 

 yellowish-white, smooth, fine of grain, and susceptible of 

 a nice polish. I have used the wood for several out-of-door 

 purposes, and with the best and most satisfactory results. 

 As fencing-posts, it equals the larch of similar age, while for 

 furniture it would seem to be well suited. I consider this a very 

 valuable timber-producing tree for planting in this country. 



