340 A MANUAL OF THE CONIFJ5K2E. 



acre, it would require more than 14,000 acres to furnish this quantity. 

 As these figures represent the quantity of Black Spruce timber felled 

 in a portion of the United States only, the extent of Spruce forest 

 annually cleared, both in the United States and in British America, 

 must be set down at a much higher figure." — (From The Garden, 

 vol. ix., p. 481). 



" The area of the Redwood forests of California was estimated, five 

 years ago, at 500,000 acres. The consumption of Eedwood timber in 

 1874 amounted to upwards of 600,000,000 feet, or 50,000,000 feet 

 in excess of the previous year. At this rate it is estimated that, in 

 less than a quarter of a century, the whole of the Eedwood forests 

 will have been felled." — (From the Gardeners' Chronicle, Oct. 23, 

 1875). 



" No less than 70,000,000 cubic feet of the Kauri Pine of New 

 Zealand (Agathis australis) was cut down and sawn for home use 

 and for exportation in the province of Auckland alone, during the 

 year 1878. The Kauri Pine is a tree of rapid growth, and 

 produces timber of great economic value ; but at this rate of con- 

 sumption, it is evident that the native forests must become extinct 

 in the course of a few years." — (Capt. C. Walker, Report on New 

 Zealand Forests). 



XII.— COLLECTIONS OF CONES AT CHELSEA. 



Cones of different species gathered from the trees growing in 

 their native countries by our collectors, and sent home by them 

 from time to time, are preserved in the museum attached to the 

 Royal Exotic Nursery at Chelsea. To these have been added 

 many other kinds gathered from trees in cultivation in this country. 

 From this collection most of the drawings and descriptions of the 

 cones given in the preceding pages were chiefly taken. The cones 

 can always be inspected by visitors to the Nursery. 



