THUIA GIGANTEA. 243 



with branches from the base upwards, the lowermost showing no signs 

 <f becoming effete except where they have been brought into contact 

 with other trees. The length of the lowermost branches of the 

 largest specimens ranges from 12 to 15 feet, so that a space with a 

 radius greater than these dimensions should be allowed for trees 

 intended for the decoration of the lawn and park. It thrives in most 

 kinds of soils and in diverse situations ; the rate of growth is 

 influenced to some extent by the average temperature and rainfall of 

 the locality ; under the most favourable conditions it adds from 25 to 

 30 inches to its height yearly during the first fifteen to twenty years 

 of its life, a fact that should strongly recommend it to the attention 

 of the forester; in drier situations the annual rate of growth is 

 considerably less. No stronger proof of its acclimatisation can be 

 adduced than the circumstance of its producing seeds freely, from which, 

 in many places, seedlings have sprung up spontaneously around the 

 parent tree. 



The great economic value of Thuia yigantea in its native region 

 was first discovered by the Red Indians ; they make their canoes of 

 its timber which is easily worked, and also various household 

 utensils; they manufacture the thin fibrous inner bark which strips" 

 off in ribbon-like bands, into mats, bags, baskets, cordage and even 

 articles of clothing. Nor has the white settler been slow to avail 

 himself of the advantages offered by the timber of this exceptionally 

 valuable tree ; the timber of the larger trees is absolutely free 

 from knots and can be split into shingles with unerring exactness ; 

 these shingles neither, warp nor split from the action of the weather, 

 and are much preferred for doors, window-sills and other construc- 

 tions exposed to sun, wind and rain ; Thuia wood is also much 

 used for indoor carpentry and fittings, for cooperage and the coarser 

 kinds of furniture. 



For a long time after its introduction Thuia t/iyantea was better known 

 in British gardens as T. Lolbii ; this name had been given to it from a 

 desire to pay a well-merited tribute to the exertions of William Lobb 

 through whom it had been introduced. That Lobb's name is worthy of 

 being held in remembrance will be seen from the following sketch of his 

 life and labours as a plant collector. 



WILLIAM LOBB (18091863) was born in the eastern division of Cornwall. The 

 place is imknown, nor is anything known of his early life. When a young man, he 

 .applied himself to gardening, and obtained a situation as gardener to Mr. Stephen 

 Davey, of Redruth, whose horticultural establishment appears to have been on a 

 modest scale, but which, under Lobb's management, became thoroughly efficient. 

 After remaining in the service of Mr. Davey a few years, Lobb entered the nursery of 

 Mr. Veitch, at Exeter, for the purpose of improving his knowledge of plants. For 

 a long time previous he had cherished an ardent desire for travel and adventure ; 

 he was quick of observation, ready in resources, and practical in their application ; 

 he had also devoted much of his leisure time to the study of botany, in which lie 

 acquired considerable proficiency. Mr. Veitch, finding him thus qualified, proposed 

 that he should go on a mission to South America for the purpose o( collecting plants 

 in that rich quarter of the globe, an offer which Lobb gladly accepted. He sailed 

 from Plymouth in 1840 for Rio Janeiro. On his arrival in Brazil he first proceeded 

 to the Orgaos Mountains, where he met with several beautiful Orchids at that time 

 extremely rare in English gardens ; he then proceeded to Chile by crossing the great 

 Pampas of the Argentine Republic and the Chilian Andes. Continuing his journey 

 southwards he penetrated the great Araucaria forests, where he collected a large 

 quantity of seeds of Araucaria imbricata ; he was thus instrumental in bringing this 

 remarkable Conifer into general use for ornamental planting. He returned to England 



