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measured 1700 cubic feet. The market value of the timber, which could be used for poles and pit-props, worked out at about 1000 marks for the Douglas, and about 360 marks for the spruce. Thus, growing on the same soil, the Douglas, as compared with the spruce, had yielded about twice the amount of timber, with about three times the value. I visited this plantation in August 1908, and measured two of the largest trees, which were 74 feet high by 3 feet 8 inches, and 2 feet 7 inches; but the average was considerably less. I noticed that the lower branches, though dead for several years, were not falling off; and that many of the trees showed the same irregularity in straightness that I have noticed elsewhere. My impression was that unless heavily thinned, a large proportion of the trees would soon be suppressed by their more vigorous neighbours, and that such close planting was neither economic nor desirable.

I have said so much about the timber of this tree in its own country that it only remains to speak of its probable future value here, and as this subject has been ably dealt with in a recent paper by Mr. J.D. Crozier,! I cannot do better than summarise his opinions.

He agrees with me that we cannot hope to compete with the imported timber in size, age, or quality, and thinks that in a young state it is not so dense in fibre or so tough as larch of the same age. “For standing in contact with soil, and for such purposes as gate-making, fencing, etc., where the ability to stand wear and tear is a desideratum, it is inferior to larch, but there are many other purposes for which it is infinitely superior, and for the supply of which an infinitely greater volume of timber is required. For constructive purposes of all kinds it is especially suited, and owing to the beauty of its grain and the ease with which it can be worked, it is valuable for the finished work of interiors. The timber stains well, and when varnished, takes on and retains a beautiful gloss. Outlying and badly-grown trees, when sawn up are liable to warp, but this defect is not apparent when dealing with trees of clean straight growth; and with home timber more freedom may be used in regard to nailing. In a younger state it has been tried and found useful as curing-barrel staves and headings, and for box wood, for which in this locality there is an unlimited demand.”

“What the most profitable length of rotation may be is a question which will have to be determined by trade demands, but to provide timber of a class fitted for house construction, any period short of 100 years need not, I feel convinced, be contemplated, and on deep rich soils, probably other ten or twenty years will require to be added to that period.”

“As a pitwood tree the Douglas fir is well adapted, and is deserving of con- sideration wherever crops cultivated for that purpose are found to pay. Crowded together in pure plantation, by the time they have reached their thirtieth year, they will be found capable of yielding an amount of pitwood almost incredible to those who have not seen the tree so grown. For this purpose the planting should not be done at more than 3 feet apart.” (H.J.E.)

1 Trans. Roy. Scot. Arb. Soc. xxi. 31 (1908).