Capt. S. E. Cook on Pinus and Abies. 301 



sam might be prepared from it. Owing to its dryness and to 

 its not bleeding in consequence, the hispanica bears the knife 

 better than any of the genus which have come under my ob- 

 servation. 



There is no doubt whatever, from the reasons above stated, 

 that for oeconomic purposes the Laricio is the better tree, though 

 I beUeve that in hardiness and quickness of growth they are 

 about equal. The French government have, owing to its great 

 value, caused the Laricio to be extensively grafted, with P, 

 sylvestris (see ^ Arb. Brit.^), a process of doubtful utility, cer- 

 tainly so in this country, where, in soil and situations suited to 

 it, it would grow faster than the Scotch fir. As ornamental trees, 

 both, differing totally in character, are equally desirable in the 

 park. There is a very just observation of M. Vilmorin, that 

 the P. hispanica has more resemblance to the Pinaster than 

 to the Laricio. The trees in the Landes I believe, by tapping to 

 extract the turpentine, have a glaucous hue, and in form are 

 not at all unlike the P. hispanica; but of course the cones and 

 other peculiarities distinguish them quite as much as from the 

 Laricios, and forbid the supposition of any connexion between 

 them. 



On Pinus uncinata. 



The distinction between this species and sylvestris is not 

 great, but in my opinion quite sufficient not only to justify 

 the separation, but in fact make it necessary, it being equally 

 imperative to form good distinctions of genera and species as 

 to reject those which are insufficient. For instance, the rubra 

 and alba, the rigensis and genevensis, are merely varieties of 

 sylvestris. The first point of distinction is in the cone, and 

 was given by the French botanists who noticed the form of 

 the scales ; and from a peculiar hook or knob at the extre- 

 mity, which is most remarkable when the cone is full formed, 

 before it begins to dry, gave it the name of " Pin a crochets.^' 

 It is really a good designation and has nothing to do with the 

 general form of the cone, which is often curved or bent, as are 

 those of sylvestris, Pinaster, and many others. Besides this 

 form of the hooks, the cone is more rugged in texture and in 

 form than that of its congener, and they are easily distin- 

 guished by those w^ho have studied them in the forest, as well 



