1 10 THE NEW FORESTRY. 



samples that the two would hardly be recognised as belonging 

 to the same species. The largest examples of Scotch-grown 

 trees are in shape like an elongated candle-extinguisher, with 

 a lumpy exterior, while the Kew pole is almost cylindrical, and 

 smooth from end to end. 



THE NOBLE FIR. Abies noblis. This is not only a 

 beautiful tree, but promises also to be a useful timber-tree. It 

 is perfectly hardy, a quick grower, is not a very wide brancher, 

 and forms a fine, clean pole of cylindrical shape. We have 

 noticed in many places that it is not so fastidious as to soil and 

 climate as the other spruces, and that it thrives, if it does not 

 grow so fast, in dry, thin soils, and stands exposure fairly 

 well. We have seen it in mixed plantations in Argyleshire 

 doing remarkably well, and would advise its use as a timber- 

 tree. Taking up little room laterally, it may be planted from 

 two-and-a-half to three feet apart. 



NORDMAN'S FIR. Abies Nordmaniana. This promises 

 to be another useful tree, being a good grower and hardy. 

 Its rigid, horizontal branches are, however, wide-spreading, 

 and, like the Douglas fir, it should be planted by itself and but 

 sparingly thinned. 



GRAND FiR. Abies grandis. This species has the fault 

 of the more tender spruces a dislike to dry soils and keen 

 windy exposures. In the sheltered dens about Murthly Castle 

 in Scotland, it makes a grand tree, and in a plantation would 

 no doubt soon provide a trunk of large size. 



LARCH. Larix Eitropce. This tree needs no description. 

 But for the disease to which it is extremely liable everywhere 

 and which renders it useless, it would be the most valuable 

 species among all the firs. Under ordinarily favourable 

 conditions a crop of larch is sure to pay. Its timber is useful 

 and enduring at an early age, and large trees fetch from 

 one shilling to one shilling and sixpence per foot in the wood. 

 As pure forest, a large number can be grown to the acre, 

 and although it has been said to succeed best mixed with other 

 species, it is well-known that many of the pure crops of larch 

 of mature age in this country have been very fine. Mixed 

 with the beech it holds its own in height-growth, but the beech 

 is of poor quality owing to its liability to branch under the thin 

 shade of the larch. The larch succeeds in a great variety of 

 soils, on lowlands and on hills, where they are well drained, 

 and grows rapidly. The leading shoot in young trees 

 frequently exceeds three feet in a year, and we have known 

 plantations on gravelly lands in Leicestershire where the 



