Capt. S. E. Cook on the Gentis Pinus and Abies. 1G5 



some valuable additions to our woodlands. One species al- 

 ready known, the Abies Douglasiij according to the accounts 

 transmitted to Dr. Lindley, which are fully borne out by the 

 appearance of the timber and the growth of the young trees 

 in every part of England, appears to possess the qualities of 

 the larch, of durability, quick growth, and utility when young, 

 with the advantage in some respects of being an evergreen. 

 We earnestly entreat all cultivators to attend to this species, 

 which, in the absence of seed, which we hope will shortly be 

 supplied from our own trees, is readily propagated by cuttings. 

 Our acquaintance with these Californian forests is too recent, 

 and the habits of the people who frequent them too barbarous, 

 to admit of our possessing much certain information respect- 

 ing the nature of their timber ; but as, by the munificent care 

 of the Duke of Devonshire, collectors are now in the country 

 for the express purpose of collecting large quantities of cones 

 of the kinds already known, and of making further discoveries, 

 it is to be hoped we shall soon possess more ample knowledge 

 of them. 



It is very much to be regretted that Government does not take 

 advantage of this period of profound tranquillity, and in con- 

 cert with the Fur Company cause a line of permanent settle- 

 ments to be made across some parts of the chain. By this 

 means we should obtain valuable and certain information on 

 these and other interesting subjects ; and by canying the same 

 system through Upper Canada, the Anglo-Saxon race would 

 be established from Labrador to the Pacific across the whole 

 continent of North America. 



The species which have been as yet sent from Mexico are 

 few in number and of too recent introduction, to warrant delay 

 in giving detailed accounts of them, and it is more than pro- 

 bable they may be found rather remarkable as tropical species 

 than for any superior qualities to be expected from them. 



From the Himalaya range, our species, although as yet but 

 few in number, are on a scale we should expect to find in such 

 a chain of mountains. TheEuropaean species are in some degree 

 represented amongst them, as we have silver and spruce; and 

 there is a cedar in place of that of Western Asia. From the 

 comparative advanced state of the inhabitants with those of 

 the American forests, we may look for better accounts of the 



