ECONOMIC PLANTING 239 



of IS. 4d. per foot where felled. This timber was 

 to be utilised for many purposes, amongst others 

 for railway sleepers and fencing. 



The date of introduction of the Spruce is not 

 known, but it is mentioned by writers as early 

 as the sixteenth century. 



The Giant Arborvitae [Thuya plicata). — 

 Whether for utility or ornament, we have in this 

 species a valuable addition to our forest trees, 

 and it is the opinion of those who are most com- 

 petent to judge that it will be one of the trees 

 of the future in this country. After a fair and 

 impartial trial on my own part I have found it 

 to be quite hardy, even at high altitudes, a fast 

 growler and rapid timber-producer, a non-fastidious 

 subject as regards the quality of soil in which 

 it is planted, and one of the easiest managed and 

 most accommodating of trees. 



From my note-book I find that the average 

 annual rate of growth of twenty-six specimens 

 growing under dissimilar conditions is 22 inches. 

 The timber of thirty 3^ears' growth that I had cut 

 up and converted w^as of good quality, but much 

 better results may be expected from more fully 

 matured wood. As barely three-quarters of a 

 century has elapsed since the introduction of the 

 tree, we must be careful in sounding its praises ; 

 but so far our experiments with both the tree 

 and its timber are highly encouraging. It may 

 be well to mention that there are several forms 

 of this tree, some quite valueless for economic 

 planting. 



Valuable for shelter and afforesting purposes 

 generally. 



