Cupressus 1 209 



In Ireland this species is, if possible, even more vigorous than in Scotland, and 

 certainly grows faster. A tree at Kilmacurragh, Co. Wicklow, was reported 1 in 

 1906 as being about 80 ft. high, but the tallest that I could find when I was there 

 in 1908, and which I believe to be the same tree, was only 60 ft. by 6 ft. There 

 are three very fine ones in a group in the valley west of Castlewellan, of which the 

 late Lord Annesley took a photograph (Plate 310) at my request shortly before his 

 death. Though I was unable to measure them accurately, I believe they are well 

 over 60 ft. high, and a tree in his garden which forms the first illustration in his 

 book, measured 62 ft. high in 1903. 



Timber 



Though this splendid timber has long been known and valued in Oregon and 

 California, where it is second in value only to that of Cupressus nootkatensis, 

 it does not appear to be known in European commerce. Sargent describes 

 it as light, hard, strong, and very close-grained, abounding in fragrant resin, 

 very durable in contact with the soil, easily worked and capable of taking a 

 good polish. All these good qualities are well shown by some boards of this 

 wood which I purchased in San Francisco, and which have been used for lining 

 a wardrobe made for me by Messrs. Emanuel of London, who considered it one of 

 the nicest woods for the purpose they had ever seen. The scent is extremely 

 fragrant and persistent, so that linen kept in this wardrobe comes out with an 

 odour more agreeable and delicate than that of camphor wood ; but this scent is 

 not present in a sample brought by Henry from Myrtle Creek, Oregon, which I 

 believe to be taken from a tree long dead. This gives it a great advantage over 

 the wood of C. nootkatensis for all inside work ; and if selected and sawn from the 

 butts of old trees, which show some figure, it would be very handsome wood for 

 decorative purposes. 



Mr. L. J. Simpson, manager of the Simpson Lumber Co. at North Bend, 

 Oregon, whose mills are near the forest of this tree in Coos County, writes 

 to me as follows: "We have cut many logs of white cedar which are 6 to 

 8 ft. in diameter. Some of them get hollow at heart after attaining a great age, but 

 this is very much less frequent than it is in red cedar or redwood. I enclose you a 

 photograph of a spruce tree 7^ ft. in diameter, which has grown on the fallen stem 

 of a smaller white cedar, the roots extending like the claws of a parrot around each 

 side of the tree, and locking together underneath. The spruce tree must be over 

 200 years old, and the white cedar is to-day as sound as any of the green standing 

 trees near it. You will notice in this photograph that the moss and dead leaves 

 which have accumulated on the fallen log have been scraped away to show the 

 soundness of the wood." 



The Simpson Lumber Co. state in their circular that vessels built of this wood 

 on Coos Bay over forty years ago are still as sound as when launched, the essential 

 oil in the wood seeming to act as a preservative ; and the smell is stated to be 

 an absolute safeguard against moths when used for chests, presses, or wardrobes. 



1 Gard. Chron. xl. 351 (1906). 

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