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C—3d

A. religiosa (Schlechtendal). "Mexican Silver Fir." Mexico, Guatemala.—Height, 120ft. to 150ft. Wood white, and even in the grain; valued for its fissile properties. A. vulgaris (Poiret). " Common Silver Fir." (A. pectenata, De Candolle ; Pinus Picea, Linne.) Central and Southern Europe, from the Caucasus to the Carpathian Mountains.—Height, 120ft. to 150ft. A stately tree, affording white, rather soft timber, suitable for inside work, framing, &c, and especially for furniture ; not durable when exposed. A. Cephalonica (Loudon). " Greek Silver Fir." Island of Cephaloma, Greece.—A rather small species, which should be regarded as a variety of A. vulgaris. Height, 50ft. to 60ft. Timber easily worked, probably the most durable of all the silver firs. Adapted to mountain districts. A. Nordmanniana (Spach). The Crimea and the Caucasus.—This is another variety of A. vulgaris. It attains the height of from 80ft. to 100ft., and affords valuable timber. A. Cilicica (Carriere). " Cilician Silver Fir." Taurus Mountains. —A rather small species, 50ft. to 80ft. high. Timber easily worked, suitable tor house-framing or any inside work, but not durable when exposed. A. firma (Siebold and Zuccarini). Japan.—A fine species, 120ft. high and upwards, limber not durable when exposed. . A. brachyphylla (Maximowicz) . Japan.—Height, 100ft. to 120ft. In many respects similar to tliG TjrccGclino". A. Pindrow (Spach). " Himalayan Silver Fir." Bhotan.—Height, 100ft. In lowland situations in the colony this species starts into growth early in the spring; so that its leaders are frequently killed by frost. It should be planted only in exposed positions. A. Webbiana (Lindley). Himalayan Mountains, Afghanistan.—Height, 80ft. to 100ft. Timber soft, but durable, and easily worked. The cones of this and A. Pindrow afford a violet dye. The leaders and young shoots of this and other silver firs are often injured by late spring frosts when planted in lowland situations in New Zealand. A. amabilis (Forbes). "The Lovely Silver Fir." British Columbia, Oregon, California.— Height, 100ft. to 150ft., producing timber of great value. Suitable only for mountain districts. A.'concolor (Lindley and Gordon). New Mexico, South California, Colorado.—Height, 120ft. to 150ft. Timber applied to a great variety of purposes. A. grandis (Lindley). "The Lofty Silver Fir." Vancouver Island to Mendocino, California, Rocky' Mountains, San Juan Island.—Height, 150ft. Timber valuable for inside work only. A. Veitchii (Lindley). " Veitch's Silver Fir." Japan.—Height, 100ft. A. Sachalinensis (Masters). Japan, Island of Saghalien.—Height, 120ft. LARIX (Miller). Larix pendula (Salisbury). " Black American Larch." Canada and North-eastern States.— From 60ft. to 90ft. in height. Of great value for railway-sleepers and other purposes where strength and durability are required. . L. Europcea (De Candolle). "Common Larch. The Alps and Central Europe, Siberia.— Height, 80ft. to 100ft. Timber stout in the grain, but of great strength and durability; used for general building-purposes, constructive works, railway-sleepers, shipbuilding, and many other purposes. Yields Venetian turpentine. The " Memel " timber, so largely imported into England in the form of " baulk," is yielded by this species ; logs of the best quality are known as " Crown Memel," and fetch a high price on account of their great strength. Several years ago a wreck was found some distance above high-water mark near Okarito: it had been there so long that it was completely hidden by large trees which had grown up around it; but, on examination, it was found that the larch, of which it was chiefly built, was perfectly sound. This is as good a proof of the durability of the timber under unfavourable conditions as could be desired. The larch is not adapted to lowland situations in the colony, but is of great value for districts above 1,500ft. or 2,000ft., where it will be found to afford useful timber in from forty to fifty years. L. occidentalis (Nuttall). "Western Larch." California, Oregon, British Columbia.— Height, 100ft. to 150ft. Timber of great durability, light, and tough; but not equal to the European larch in strength. Of great value for mountain-forests. PSEUDOLARIX (Gordon). Pseudolarix Kamipferi (Gordon). " Golden Larch." Che Kiang, Northern China.—Height, 100ft. to 150ft., affording a timber of great durability. Suitable for mountain-forests. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, Nil; printing (1,850 copies), .£l3 12s. 6d.]

By Authority: GEOsaK Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB6.