PROFITABLE TIMBER TREES 107 



which it is found to succeed best, and it may frequently be 

 seen doing well on those poor Scots fir soils alluded to when 

 discussing that tree. On well-drained peat, Douglas also 

 does well for a time, but it is not likely to grow to a great 

 age nor to produce high-class timber. 



The yield of timber from a well-grown and close crop of 

 Douglas fir exceeds that of any other coniferous tree. Dr. 

 Schlich calculated the contents of the Douglas fir plantation 

 at Scone at 3700 cubic feet per acre at thirty-two years 

 of age. At Longleat pure groups of Douglas fir on the 

 Greensand contain, calculated per acre, 2500 cubic feet at 

 twenty-six years of age. Most of these groups were planted 

 at 12 feet apart, and filled in with larch to a distance of 

 4 feet. Had they been planted closer, heavier crops and 

 cleaner timber would have been the result, but, as it is, it will 

 be seen that an average yield of 100 cubic feet has been 

 obtained without taking the larch thinnings into account. 

 Valued at lOd. per foot, it will be seen that a gross return 

 of £4 to £5 per acre is possible on suitable sites, and that it 

 is a valuable addition to our list of foreign trees. Its chief 

 failing at present lies in the extra cost of the plants, although 

 this may disappear in time, while its rapid growth allows a 

 greater latitude in this respect than in the case of a slow- 

 growing species. 



But an objection to the Douglas fir being planted on a 

 large scale will probably come from the gamekeeper. A 

 crop of trees which excludes light to the extent that Douglas 

 fir does when pure is absolutely useless for game preserving. 

 Eabbits cannot live under it, and pheasants will not stay in 

 semi-darkness either summer or winter. Whether this will 

 affect its popularity or its sylvicultural treatment remains to 

 be seen. Planted in clumps here and there throughout a 

 wood of 200 or 300 acres, its presence may not be taken 

 much notice of; but in small woods, that desire to make 

 them as fit for game as possible will probably check any 

 extensive planting of Douglas fir on sylvicultural lines. A 

 tree or clump here and there is rather favoured by the game- 

 keeper than otherwise, for they afford warm roosting trees for 

 pheasants, but beyond this they are not likely to meet with 

 his approval and that of the game-loving proprietor. 



