PINETUM DANICUM. 



451 



Douglas Fir in this country during fifty years is no doubt that of 

 which we kept a record, viz. 240 feet, or nearly 5 feet per j^ear for 

 half a century. The tree here referred to as having produced this 

 almost fabulous quantity of wood is growing on an estate in North 

 Wales, and is of the following dimensions : Girth of stem at three feet 

 up, 11 feet 9 inches; and at twenty-one feet up, 8 feet 4 inches ; 

 42 feet in length of the butt contains 217 feet of excellent clean 

 timber. Another Douglas Fir, growing within a few yards of the 

 former, has a girth of stem at three feet from the ground of 13 feet 

 Sh inches ; and 24 feet in length of the stem contains exactly 

 131 feet of wood. In a plantation of this Fir formed twenty-two 

 years ago, the average sizes we found to be as follows : Height, 76 feet ; 

 girth of stem at twenty-four feet up, 4 feet ; cubic contents, fully 

 50 feet. 



The timber produced in this country is of excellent quality, being 

 light but strong, works readily, has a pleasant yellowish tinge, and 

 takes a good polish. By way of experiment Ave have used the wood 

 rather extensively for fencing purposes, for doors, in boat-building 

 (principally as masts), and for various other purposes, and with 

 excellent results ; although it would be premature to speak with 

 perfect certainty, for sufficient time for a fair trial has not elapsed 

 since the experiments were instituted. As an ornamental tree for the 

 park or lawn the Douglas Fir is of great value, its graceful outline 

 and Avealth of foliage being special attractions. When planted in 

 clumps or masses it is effective, the beautiful rich green foliage being 

 pleasing in the extreme, particularly in early spring, when the young 

 leaves are becoming fully developed, for then the contrast between 

 these and the dark green — almost Yew-green — of the older foliage is 

 strikingly distinct. 



The cultivation of the tree in Great Britain and Ireland looks at 

 present very encouraging, and I trust that experiments will be con- 

 tinued ; but I deprecate altogether rushing into extensive plantings, 

 as advocated by the correspondent of the Perthshire Constitutional, 

 until time has shown that the tree really deserves to supersede the 

 species hitherto cultivated by us, and of which we know what to 

 expect. My personal opinion is, that the Douglas Fir will just as 

 little revolutionise our sylvicultural operations as the Weymouth Pine 

 has been able to do, though great things were expected of it at one 

 time. There is a great difference between nursing up a single tree in 

 a fine soil and under otherwise favourable conditions, and the growing 

 of a species on a large scale for economic purposes ; in the former case 

 only exceptional results present themselves to the eye, while in the 

 latter case averages must be looked for and reckoned with. 



In planting the Douglas Fir for ornament, ample space should be 

 allowed for the development of all the branches, as, if the trees are 

 crowded together, the lower branches die off, and thus greatly mar 



G G 2 



