Capt. S. E. Cook on the Genus Pinus and Abies. 1?5 



The volcanic appearance of the heights on every side, and the 

 treasures which are being consumed for ever, are sufficient 

 proof of the futility of calculating on such resources, and 

 show that we ought to create them, as we have the power to 

 do, in fee simple, making ourselves alike independent of indi- 

 viduals and foreigners. 



By devoting 100,000 acres, which is about the size of the 

 larger Highland estates, to this purpose, we should in seventy 

 to. seventy-five years, proceeding on the calculation of the Duke 

 of Athol, that in the same period his forests would be worth 

 five to six millions sterling, be possessed of national capital 

 to the amount of fifty to sixty millions in timber alone, besides 

 a large tract of mountain pasture returning an ample annual 

 revenue, and all this with an outlay in the first instance com- 

 paratively trifling. It is needless to observe that this immense 

 result cannot be obtained, or even the entire foundation laid, 

 in a moment, but must be attained by steady and systematic 

 perseverance, like that of the individuals above-mentioned who 

 have bequeathed us so noble an example. By the creation of 

 forests on this scale, we should make some reparation for the 

 consumption and destruction of the vast mineral treasures, on 

 which vital staple of national wealth the operations of this ge- 

 neration will about that period begin to be seriously felt. 



Although the larch unquestionably far exceeds every other 

 tree for the purpose we are speaking of, it would be most de- 

 sirable that some of the evergreens should be grown on scales 

 according to the results of experience of their utility and the 

 fitness of the soil and situation to bring them to perfection. 

 It is hardly necessary to observe that we should only recom- 

 mend those of first-rate properties, as shown in the list we have 

 gone through. 



The P. Cembra, of which the timber is perhaps superior to 

 that of any other species, labours under the disadvantage of 

 being extremely slow of growth. However, the trials made in 

 this country are as yet not sufficient ; and it can only be fairly 

 tried on dry hills or mountain sides, clay soil and flats being 

 unsuited to it ; and very probably it might be improved by 

 grafting the P. sylvestris in the Tchoudy manner. 



The uncinata is considerably quicker in growth than the 



