THE DOUGLAS FIR 97 
PsEupo-Tsuca Dovuciasit (DouGLas Fir) 
'Tis said he had a tuneful tongue, 
Such happy intonation, 
Wherever he sat down and sung 
He left a small plantation, 
Tennyson, Old Amphion, 
The Douc tas Fir.—History of its introduction: 
Discovered by Menzies in 1792, during Vancouver’s 
voyage round the world. Rediscovered by Douglas, 
1827. Introduced 1828. Firmly established and 
plentifully planted since 1862 up to the present time. 
What accelerating influence towards the growth 
of trees old Amphion possessed in the strains of music 
he poured forth from his melodious pipe, many of 
us doubtless would like to learn the secret of. We 
know, and that is all, that some occult influence impels 
the Douglas to grow with more celerity than any 
other forest tree we plant in masses. No trees, 
unless it be the European Larch, have been more 
widely planted of late years than the now well-known 
Douglas Fir. When asked, “ Why is this so?” we might 
make reply as the Scotsman, and answer ‘‘ For every 
why.” Its timber results are more than promising, 
they are an accomplished fact. Its rapidity of growth 
is phenomenal. The Royal Agricultural S.E. judges 
of the plantation competition in 1915 computed, 
if I remember aright, by measurement, that some 
of the Shropshire-grown Douglas (at Leaton Knolls, 
the seat of Colonel Lloyd, M.V.O.) had made several 
annual consecutive growths of no less than four feet. 
Again, it is without doubt ornamental, and though | 
not immune from the ravages of rabbits altogether, 
is certainly more distasteful, with the exception of the 
Corsican Pine, to them than other Conifers. 
The Oregon variety is the one we are advised to 
plant, the Colorado the variety to avoid. A good 
