4 "

I am inclined to believe that on account of the generally drier
climate of America a greater amount of water, and, therefore, of
water-conducting sap-wood, is necessary to keep the balance between
the evaporation and transportation of the water. The wood of the White
Pine is certainly better fitted for many purposes than any tree with
which nature has provided Europe, and yet one can hardly expect it to
easily overcome fixed habits and prejudices. It will devolve upon the
more intelligent proprietors of wood-land in Europe to begin with the
plantation of the White Pine on a large scale. No Conifer in Europe
can be cultivated with so little care and risk as the White Pine;
the frost does not injure the young plant, and the numerous insects
invading the European trees during their whole life-time inflict but
little harm. Subterranean parasites are thinning out the plantations
to some extent, but in no dangerous way.

_H. Mayr._

Tokio, Japan.

ABIES AMABILIS.--Professor John Macoun detected this species during
the past summer upon many of the mountains of Vancouver's Island where
with _Tsuga Pattoniana_ it is common above 3,000 feet over the sea
level. The northern distribution of this species as well as some other
British Columbia trees is still a matter of conjecture. It has not
been noticed north of the Fraser River, but it is not improbable that
_Abies amabilis_ will be found to extend far to the north along some
of the mountain ranges of the north-west coast.

European Larch in Massachusetts.

In 1876 the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion
of Agriculture offered a premium for the best plantations of not less
than five acres of European Larch. The conditions of the competition
were that not less than 2,700 trees should be planted to the acre,
and that only poor, worn-out land, or that unfit for agricultural
purposes, be used in these plantations.

The prize was to be awarded at the end of ten years. The committee
appointed to award the prize were C. S. Sargent and John Lowell. The
ten years having expired, this Committee lately made the following
report:

Mr. James Lawrence, of Groton, and Mr. J. D. W. French, of
North Andover, made plantations during the spring of 1877 in
competition for this prize. Mr. Lawrence, however, at the end
of one year withdrew from the contest, and Mr. French is the
only competitor. Your Committee have visited hi