Fitzroya 



H57 



The only specimen that we know of in Scotland is one at Ardgowan, which was 

 about 25 ft. high in 1909. A tree at Murthly, recorded at the Conifer Conference 

 as 16 ft. high and 30 years old in 1891, was killed in the severe winter of 1893- 1894, 

 when the thermometer registered at Murthly if Fahr. below zero. 



In Ireland a tree at Powerscourt was 30 ft. high in 19 10; and another at Fota 

 was 25 ft. high in 191 2. There are also good specimens at Kilmacurragh, Rostrevor, 

 and Castlewellan. 1 (A. H.) 



Timber 



The wood is very valuable ; and is remarkable for the extraordinary straight- 

 ness of the grain, which makes it very easy to rend into thin boards. These are 

 used as shingles for roofing, which after exposure to the weather turn blue and 

 resemble slates ; and also for floors and partitions. Castillo and Dey state that 

 it is very durable in contact with water, is unaffected by heat or humidity, and has 

 lasted in roofs without alteration for over 100 years. Captain Fitzroy 2 says that 

 "it does not shrink or warp; and, though brittle, is of very close grain and well 

 adapted for furniture. Of this wood, the country people make staves for casks ; 

 and the bark of the tree is used for caulking the seams of vessels, being extremely 

 durable when constantly wet, though it soon decays when exposed to the sun 

 and air." Spars of alerce, which proved to be very strong, were obtainable 80 

 or 90 ft. in length. I saw mule-loads of these shingles 8 ft. long and very thin, on 

 my journey from Nahuelhuapi to Puerto Montt, and very large stumps of trees in 

 the country near that port ; but I was unable to visit the forest where it grows. 

 The wood is apparently still unknown in Europe ; but I bought three boards in 

 London imported from Chile, which are of a rich reddish colour with very fine and 

 close grain. (H. J. E.) 



1 Figured by Earl Annesley, Beautiful and Rare Trees, t. 68 (1903), who states that this species should be planted in 

 deep loam and peat, as it is a deep-rooting tree which grows slowly till it is well established. 



2 Narrative of Voyages of the Beagle, i. 275, 282, and ii. 391 (1839). Cf. also Cook, in Loudon, Card. Mag. xv. 694 

 (I839)- 



