ABIES DOUGLASII. 
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compared plants raised from the seeds introduced by Douglas, or from cuttings or grafts taken from the trees 
originally introduced by him, and others raised from seedlings introduced from North-West America during 
the last ten years, with others from plants (eighteen in number) raised from seed ripened in different districts 
of Scotland, and now growing in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. He found that the original trees in that 
garden (introduced by Douglas), as well as those recently raised from seed direct from the American continent, 
were of a rich dark green colour, having straight clean stems; while the majority of those raised from 
British-ripened seeds had their leaves somewhat shortened, and of a yellowish-green tint, with bare undulated 
stems, and branches more or less covered with resinous warts. He observed that many of the plants raised 
from home-ripened seeds had a sickly look and a stunted appearance, notwithstanding that they had reached 
the age of fourteen or fifteen years. In connexion with the circumstance stated by some, that in several 
counties in Scotland fine trees of the Douglas Pine are to be seen reared from home-saved seed, he observed, 
that soil, in connexion with a more vigorous state of health of the seed-producing trees, might account for 
the present apparent luxuriance of the offspring; but in several instances it had been found that specimen 
trees (not the original ones introduced by Douglas) are set down as British seedlings, and said to be as 
vigorous in growth as trees raised from imported seeds ; but this, in many cases, was not due to that fact, 
the supposed British seedlings being in fact cuttings from those introduced by Douglas. The fact was, that 
previous to British seedlings being produced, the Douglas Pine was extensively propagated by layers and 
cuttings, and these layers and cuttings must now be noble trees. After British seedlings came to be produced 
freely, no more plants from cuttings were ever heard of. “ If a degeneracy exists,” said Mr M‘Nab, “as I 
firmly believe it does, it would be well for cultivators to return to the original method of propagation by layers 
and cuttings, instead of trusting so much to home-saved seed. Several of those trees which produce cones 
freely are frequently stunted, and at a comparatively early age yield abundance of cones. It is universally 
acknowledged, that in the case of the Scotch Fir and Larch, the healthiest seedlings are those produced by 
laro-e vi«-orous trees ; and that stunted trees, which often produce cones in great profusion, give rise to an 
unhealthy offspring. Such must also have been the case with some of the original Douglas Pines, which had 
been placed in situations not altogether suitable for them, and at an early age became weak. The result is, 
that cones are freely produced ; but the offspring, if any, cannot be relied upon. Plants, three or four years 
old, raised from home-saved seeds of the Douglas Pine, as well as those of the Scotch Fir and Larch, look as 
healthy as those young plants of the same age raised from impoited seeds. The constitutional weakness m 
the plants raised from British-saved seeds, does not shew at once, but at various periods, between three to 
fifteen years after germination.’’ Mr M‘Nab consequently strongly urges the securing of seeds from the trees 
in their native country, and the encouragement of collectors to piocuie them. 
The late Dr Lindley (although we do not know that he participated in Mr M'Nab’s opinion regarding 
the degeneracy of home-grown seed) was a strong advocate for the procuring of more seed from abroad. In 
regard*to this he said (Gardeners Chronicle , 17th May 1862):—“The forests of British Columbia are 
perfectly accessible ; and there is plenty of time for the collectors to go and return before next spring. Two 
months will take an active man to New Westminster, the capital of British Columbia; two months more 
will suffice for obtaining seeds from the best districts; and two months more will bring him home again. 
Therefore, to arrive here in February, there would be time enough to go, collect, and return, if he started in 
September. By this means young plants would soon become saleable at double the price of Spruce, a result 
that must be arrived at before any large plantations of the tree are likely to be formed.” 
We think that September would be found too late to start. The seeds should be ripe in October; and 
although the cones are persistent, the seeds are not, and might have fallen out before a collector, starting so 
late could have time to be at work. He should start in the beginning of August. Still, wc quite agree 
with Dr Lindley in the main point, that he should start. Mr Brown, who has had much experience in this 
matter and sent home quantities of the seed from Vancouver Island, agrees with us in this. In the north, 
October would be early enough ; but farther south, and in the warm valleys, September would in general be 
r -1 k fully 
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