A. BRACTEATA AND GRANDIS 75 
in turn derives its name from the Latin word bractea, 
which originally meant a thin plate or leaf of gold 
metal. 
A. GRanpis, or Giant Fir, rejoices in rather a 
pretentious title, which it, however, contrives to 
live up to in its native country; and its native country 
may be defined as the coast regions of British Colum- 
bia and the coast States of Western America, Oregon, 
and California. There it out-tops the highest of its 
kith and kin among Silver Firs; but among our 
little lot the Common Silver Fir (A. Pectinata) reigns 
supreme of its race. The A. Grandis was introduced 
about 1850, the A. Pectinata about A.D. 1600 ; so far, 
then, the championship must be regarded as undecided 
and any finality of opinion for the present so far upon 
the subject as nonproven. 
With us it is recognised as in the first rank of quick 
growers, and we might go so far as to bracket these 
two first, Grandis and Douglas, as Senior Wranglers 
in the field of such a competition. It will stand being 
planted under the shade of other trees. In spite of 
a character for deep-root system, like many other 
quick growers it has its drawbacks. The root 
growths do not quite seem to keep pace in proportion 
with the trees’efforts in sky-high directions. The in- 
evitable result of this is that they inherit a liability © 
to topple over at any unusual provocation or extra 
dose delivered on the part of the elements. 
We speak from the bitter experience of the 1915 
Boxing-Day gales. Without any excuse of want 
of sheltering influence a promising young A. Grandis 
of some twenty summers’ experience of its position, 
elected, to the surprise, dismay, and mortification of 
its many friends and admirers, to measure its some 
50 to 60 feet of length upon the ground in which we 
had all believed it to be firmly embedded. 
