FLORA AND SYLVA, 



most free from insect attacks and from 

 disease. The culture of the tree seems 

 easy, as it is an abundant and constant 

 seed- bearer, reproducing itself freely in 

 its own country under a great variety of 

 conditions, even sowingitselfand spring- 

 ing up upon the stems and fallen logs of 

 the forest. The trees bear seed at from 

 twenty-five to thirty years, and it is often 

 carried great distances. 



The wood of the Western 

 tree is hard, straight-grained, 

 tough, and usually white, although often 

 reddish-brownin the interior of the tree. 

 This reddening is not confined to the 

 heartwood, but may extend to the sap- 

 wood. In its strength, ease of working, 

 and freedom from warp and shake, the 

 Western Hemlock differs greatly from 

 the eastern tree and possesses all the re- 

 quisites of ordinary building material. 

 In Washington it is largely used for 

 mill-frames. Thedurability of this tim- 

 ber is still largely a matter of conjec- 

 ture; there are no recorded experi- 

 ments, and it has until recently been 

 little used. Probably it has been greatly 

 underrated, and although not a hard 

 wood it has been found serviceable for 

 floors, joists and scantlings, laths, ceil- 

 ings, newel and panel work, wooden 

 ware and paper pulp, being best adapted 

 for uses which demand ease in working, 

 fine finish, lightness, and considerable 

 strength. For such purposes there will 

 certainly be a demand for it when better 

 known. It takes a high polish, is free 

 from pitch, and when properly sawed 

 shows a beautiful grain, and is there- 

 fore excellent for wainscot, panels, and 

 newels. 



NAMES AND SYNONYMS OF THE WESTERN 

 HEMLOCK. 



A game of battledore and shuttlecock has been played 

 with the name of this tree, hence the importance of a good 

 English name to take precedence over any in a dead lan- 

 guage. The Western Hemlock Spruce is a good name. 

 To justify his change of name from Tsuga mertensiana to 

 T. hetcrophylla, Professor Sargent says : " An unfortunate 

 confusion between the names of the two Hemlock Spruces 

 of western North America has long existed. Bongard 

 first described three species of Pine collected by Mertens 

 in 1 83 1, one of which incorrectly named Tsuga canadensis 

 has since proved to be the Western Hemlock, while a 

 second known as Tsuga mertensiana has been more recently 

 identified as the Mountain Hemlock or Patton Spruce 

 (Tsuga pattoniana). The name Tsuga canadensis having 

 been already given to the Eastern Hemlock, we must turn 

 to Rafinesque, the next authority in order of precedence. 

 The tree described by him under the name Abies hetero- 

 phylla points conclusively to the Western Hemlock (no 

 other tree in the forests of Pacific North America answer- 

 ing to his description) and the only course is to adopt his 

 name and call the Western Hemlock Tsuga hetcrophylla, 

 and Patton's Spruce Tsuga mertensiana, though such a 

 change of names is certain to prove confusing." Tsuga 

 hetcrophylla, Sargent, Silva of North America, Vol. 12, 

 p. 73 ; Allen, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Fores- 

 try, Bulletin 33 ; Tsuga mertensiana, Carriere ; Abies alber- 

 tiana, Murray; A. Bridgesii, Kellogg; A. mertensiana, 

 Lindley and Gordon; A. hetcrophylla, Rafinesque; Abies 

 pattoniana, McNab ; Pinus canadensis, Bongard ; Pinus 

 mertensiana, Bongard. 



THE PARKS AT MIDSUMMER. 



Midsummer Day — the words suggest 

 clustered Roses, flowery borders, and 

 leafy bowers, so I set forth to seek these 

 charming objects in the only spots re- 

 served to them within the city — the 

 London parks. BatterseaPark is not yet 

 in a state to rouse enthusiasm. Save that 

 "Rosary" is marked upon the plan it 

 would be easy to pass through it with- 

 out noticing its existence. There is here 

 and there a Rambler trying to assert it- 

 self, but the pole to which it is trained 

 is more seen than the flowers, and else- 

 where the Roses (already weakly from 

 town life) are buried amongthe Phloxes, 

 Hollyhocks, and Delphiniums which 

 make quest for beauty hopeless. Where 

 there are no perennials there are lines 

 and patches of annuals and "bedding- 

 stufT," and as Battersea is famous for its 

 "bedding" to the beds we turn for 



