Some Problems of Re-a/orcstation. 



broken by wind, it may be remarked that this loss generally 

 occurs either in the case of solitary trees, or of trees thinly 

 scattered throughout a wood. The Douglas fir usually grows 

 faster than any species with which it may be mixed, and its 

 top is therefore much exposed to the influence of gales. If, 

 however, this species is grown in pure woods, one tree shelters 

 another, and, except along the margin of the plantation, or on a 

 hillside fully exposed to the south-west gales, the disadvantage 

 referred to is not serious. 



These drawbacks are much more than counterbalanced by 

 the many merits possessed by this tree. In quality the wood 

 is much superior to Scotch pine or spruce ; in fact, in point of 

 durability it closely approaches larch, which it also resembles 

 in colour and texture. In some parts of Scotland, before the 

 war, a good deal of Douglas fir up to fifty years old was being 

 put on the market, merchants often biiying it at the price of 

 Scots pine and spruce. On being asked as to the uses to which 

 it was put, a forester remarked that it went into the sawmill as 

 Douglas fir, but it all came out as larch post and rails ! 



Not only is Douglas fir timber of the highest value for 

 general estate purposes, but it also furnishes excellent pit wood, 

 ;md, when of sufficient size, it is unsurpassed for all high-class 

 structural purposes. Its merits have now been thoroughly 

 recognised in the timber trade, and Douglas fir or Oregon 

 pine, as it is often called now takes a very high place in the 

 lumber industry of the United States and Canada. 



But, high as is the quality of the timber of this species, the 

 volume of timber produced per acre is even more remarkable. 

 Volume xx. of the Journa I of the Board of Agriculture for 

 1913-14 contains the results of measurements of six plantations 

 of pure Douglas fir in Scotland, England, and Wales, and the 

 following is an abstract of the principal facts obtained. 



From the year of planting these six woods have given an 

 average annual growth in volume of 162 cub. ft. per acre as a 



