116 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



superfluous. I shall therefore confine my remarks to the timber 

 of some of the most tried trees, apart from many of those of 

 early introduction already so well known as to require no mention 

 here — amongst the most prominent of the latter are the Larch, 

 Silver Fir, and Norway Spruce, three most valuable trees in this 

 country — and those of later introduction, of which little is known 

 of the value or quality of their timber. 



It may be taken for granted that it is now beyond question 

 that many parts of this country, especially Scotland, are exceed- 

 ingly well adapted for the profitable growth of many of the exotic 

 Conifers, the variety of soil and diversity of climate giving us a 

 great range of natural adaptation — our deep, narrow dells and 

 glens contrasting very favourably with the natural habitat of 

 several of the varieties after named. But we must not expect 

 that we can ever produce timber of the same size and quality as 

 that produced in the true and natural home of the trees enume- 

 rated below. Yet it is not too much to expect, judging from the 

 examples found in Scotland and elsewhere, that with proper 

 selection of soil, situation, exposure, and climate, four necessary 

 conditions, we can greatly improve our timber supply, if not in 

 quality at least in quantity, although it is to be regretted, for 

 many reasons, that quantity takes precedence of quality. A 

 large volume in a given tim,e is really what is wanted since iron 

 beams have taken the place of those of timber. 



Whatever opinions may be entertained by experts or by 

 persons having only a very limited knowledge of timber as to 

 the commercial value of many of our exotic Conifers, compared 

 with the native \ariety and those of early introduction, I have 

 by using the timber proved to the satisfaction of all who have 

 seen the timbers in use that they are very valuable indeed, both 

 in regard to colour and beauty of " grain " as well as durability. 



The data for comparative value I have taken from over forty 

 thousand measurements, and by giving a well-known tree, the 

 ScotchFir, as a standard of value, the values of all are easily arrived 

 at. For example, Scotch Fir at 100 gives Larch a value of about 

 216, and with this in view I shall fix the standard of average 

 value of Scotch Fir at 100 per unit. 



Taking the old nomenclature,* I begin with the beautiful 



Abies Albertiana. — The timber of this tree is valuable on 

 * For correct names and synonymy see Dr. Masters' Synopsis, p. 179 etse^. 



