Henry anh F\.ooi) — The Doui/las Firs. 79 



externally, slightly concave internally from side to side, round above, witli 

 minutely crenulate or entire margin. Bracts short, with apical part retlexed 

 over the scale in the next row ; terminal awn broad, longer than the short, 

 blunt, laciniate lateral lobes. Seed ^ incli long, dark shining brown above, 

 pale mottled brown beneath ; wing short, broad, dark brown. 



This species is a native of south-eastern Japan, where it is restricted to a 

 few localities in the provinces of Tosa, Kii, and Yamato. It is a rare tree, 

 growing in mixed forests between 1,000 and 3,000 feet elevation. 



Three small trees were introduced into England by Mr. H. Clinton Baker 

 in 1910. These are now thriving at Bayfordbury, Hertford, the largest about 

 9 feet high, and making a leading shoot of 16 inches long in 1918. The 

 young branchlets of these trees are brilliant red in colour. 



III. — The Ouegon and Colorado Douglas Firs Contrasted. 



Before giving an account of the different beliaviour in cultivation of the 

 Oregon and Colorado Douglas Firs, it will be advisable to deal at some length 

 with the distinctive characteristics of the two species. They differ funda- 

 mentally, as already mentioned, in their distribution in the wild state, each 

 occurring in a climate totally unsuited to the other. Introduced into 

 cultivation, they retain their qualities, and are remarkably distinct in habit 

 and growth as well as in botanical characters. 



1. Habit. The difference in habit may be mainly attributed to the much 

 more I'apid growth of the Oregon Douglas I'ir. In this species, the main 

 branches, coming off the stem far apart, are long, slender, and wide-spreading, 

 being often curved by their own weight into the horizontal position, 

 ultimately forming in adult trees a wide crown of foliage. The Colorado 

 Douglas Fir has short stiif branches, coming off close together, ascending at 

 an acute angle, and forming a narrow compact regularly pyramidal crown. 



2. Summer Shoot. The Oregon Douglas Fir produces in summer a second 

 leading shoot, which continues to grow during autumn. This explains in 

 part tlie rapid growth in height of this species. The late growth, however, 

 renders the tree susceptible to injury by early winter frosts, when it is grown 

 at a high altitude or in a severe climate. The Colorado Douglas Fir never 

 produces a summer shoot, and always completes its growtli early in the 

 season. The leading shoot has thus time to harden its wood before tlie onset 

 of winter. 



3. Foliage. The foliage of the Oregon Douglas Fir is more regularly 

 disposed in two ranks than that of the other species, and is softer when a 

 leafy branch is felt by the hand. The leaves of the Colorado Dougkis Fir 

 are upturned on the branchlets, and are coarse to the touch when handled. 



