ARBORICULTURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2245, 13 June 1881, Page 4

ARBORICULTURE.

111. Box Tree.—Although this tree rarely exceeds 25ft in height and Sin in diameter, yet it produces a wood of great commercial value, much used in the making of mathematical instruments and various articles of turnery, Like all hard-wooded trees it is very slow in growth, still I believe it would come to a profitable sizs much sooner in this country than in England. In being one of the few trees oapable of flourishing under the drip and shade of others, it is valuable as forming an undergrowth, and when used es snoh it becomes drawn up and comes to a saleable sizs in lees time than when planted in the open. Holly.—This is another suitable for growing under other trees, and greatly benefits by the drawtag>up effects. Its wood possesses all the qualities of boxwood, and is used for the'same purposes. When stained it is often substituted for ebony. A rioh, sandy loam is the holly's favorite soil; although -it will grow almost anywhere, providing the moisture is not too great. Scotch Pine, erroneously called the Scotch fir, produces the well-known red and white deal of commerce. This wood, being light, strong, and durable, and easily worked, holds it own against all other woods amongst carpenters and joiners for building material, &c. The great point to be observed in growing this tree for profit, is to render it [as free as possible from knots, as its value depends upon the scarcity of knots. To do this it must be planted in thick masses on a sandy or clay loam, resting upon a gravel or rock bottom. It will grow almost anywhere, but rarely does well where stagnated soils exist. It is one of the best trees for planting on exposed elevations.

The Oorsican Pine is slightly. inferior in strength of timber to the Scotch pine; in some parts of Europe it is used in preference to it. Being a rapid grower, and suitable for low-lying places, it would form a good substitute for the Scotch pine on the Plains of Canterbury. Austrian Pine—One of the best trees for shelter ; the timber is the best amongst pines for posts, as it resists the effects of water for a long period. It is of quioker growth, and prefers a soil in which the Scotch pine would perish—a loose moist soil, especially if it is of a calcareous nature.

Pinaster Pine—Although the timber of this tree is of an inferior quality, it deserves planting where deep dry sandy soils exist, as it is a very rapid grower, and soon makes a good show, besides occupying what would be barren waste. In France it is used for this purpose on a large scale. Oembran Pine—This tree, [indigenous to Switzerland and Siberia, will grow where no other pine will exist; and although of slow growth on poor soils and on bleak elevation, it grows rapidly in deep loam with a dry subsoil. The wood is close grained, durable, and easily worked. Weymouth Pine—A most valuable timber tree; wood used extensively in America for masts, &o.; when planted in a deep rioh loam and in close plantations it loses its character as a slow grower, and produces a clean upright trunk. Spruce Fir.—There are several varieties of this spruce in cultivation, of whioh the common spruce and black-leaved spruce are the best for timber purposes. The wood being light and strong is much used for masts, oars, flooring boards, and scaffoldpoles : it also produces burgundy pitch. From an arboriculturist's point ,of view, it is the most valuable of trees; for, owing to its massive branches near the ground and its conioal shape, it is the best of nurses for other trees, in sheltering from bleak winds, and not impeding the upward growth of slow growers. The spruce requires a 'deep loam or damp clay soils, and to do well it must have shelter. Douglas' Spruoe Fir—A noble looking tree, requiring about the same treatment as the common spruce ; its timber will not warp, and is nearly free from knots, is muoh heavier than tho rest of the firs.

Hemlook Spruce—Although not so valuable for timber as other spruce, the bark is used as a tanning, and greatly esteemed [for such purposes in America. The weeping habit makes it a great favorite in Europe. Succeeds beat in a sandy moist loam on a rock bottom.

Silver Fir, undoubtedly the molt noble timber tree amongst the evergreens, the wood is strong, white, and used for a variety of purposes in boat building and carpentry ; will grow in almost any situation, bnt in a good clay loam it is the most profitable. It stands exposure better than spruce. Nardmann's Silver Spruce produces a much harder wood than the preceding tree; requires about the same treatment, excepting 1 the exposed position. Larch —Deciduous trees, capable of growing to a large size in most situations and soils, but for valuable timber it requires rich loamy or clay soils resting on rook debris, and when such can be found on the sides of valleys it grows very rapidly and gives the best of compact timber. The American March is almost as good in timber as the European, and would, no doubt, be more suitable for this country. Oedrus Deodara —A most valuable and ornamental timber treo; wood very close grained and susceptible of a high polish, is very durable, and will no doubt in time rank very high as an economical timber. American Arbor Vila; —This, when grown up by higher growing trees, often attains a height of 30ft., and produces the most highly esteemed timber for posts and rails; as such it is known to have lasted from forty to sixty years' exposure. Requires a good sandy loam with a moderate amount of moisture.

Bed Cedar, or the Virginian Juniper, produces a valuable timber, used for making lead pencils, &o. ; when grown in a deep, dry, sandy soil, and planted thickly, it attains to a good siz9. Yew Tr Je —This, when planted in masses and drawn up by other trees, loses its branching, bushy habit, and assumes the form of a fir ; the wood is very valuable, hard, closegrained, elastic, and takes a high polish; as shelter or undergrowth it is second to none ; delights in clay loams or rock. This concludes the list of timber trees. Ohbib. Mt/dd, Biverlaw.