Coniferae at Me!!s Park, Somerset. 



By GEORGE BERRY, Forester, Longleat. 



The late Eev. J. S. H. Horner was well knowio as an ardent lover of 

 trees, and an enthusiastic admirer and collector of Conifers, with which 

 he commenced forming a Pinetum at his seat, Mells Parle, Somerset, 

 about the year 1845, in which he planted most of the Conifers then 

 known to be hardy enough to withstand the climate of Great P>ritain. 

 His son, the present worthy proprietor, is an equally enthusiastic 

 admirer of Conifers, and is continually adding some rare or choice 

 specimens to the already rich and extensive collection. 



The Pinetum occupies one of the hanging portions of the park, 

 with a fine exposure and a good soil ; but unfortunately the subsoil 

 is one of the least favourable upon which to establish a collection of 

 Conifers, the large proportion of lime it contains being too great for 

 them to flourish in perfection, the result of which is that some of 

 the oldest specimens present a rather rusty and stunted appearance. 

 There is a great variety of the choicest Conifers grown, as may be 

 judged from the annexed list, some of which are rather uncommon, 

 and decidedly merit a few remarks, Plnus Ayacahuite is a distinct 

 and beautiful variety, and is a healthy and thriving specimen. This 

 tree somewhat resembles Pinus excelsa in its habit and the length of 

 its leaves, but the colour of the latter is nearer to that of P. strohus ; 

 it is, I believe, a very rare specimen — indeed, it is the largest and 

 finest specimen of the kind I ever remember to have seen. P. romana 

 is a distinct variety, its globular-shaped head of very dark green 

 foliage being exceedingly striking and conspicuous. P. Monticola is a 

 beautifully neat and pretty-looking Conifer ; it is healthy and 

 thriving. P. Escarena, P. lemoidaoia, P. Pcdlasiana, and P.i~)yrenmcci 

 are robust specimens ; they are, however, to my mind, coarse-growing 

 trees of the pinaster type. Wellingtonia gigantea is thriving beauti- 

 fully in the clay of the coal measures, and the specimens exhibit 

 healthy, robust pyramids of foliage. 



Probably if the Pinetum had been formed on the clay, instead of 

 the conglomerate and limestone formation, the Conifers generally 

 would liave been much larger and healthier now than they are. Picea 

 grandis, P. Cephalonica, P. Nordmanniana, and P. innsaijo are all 

 beautiful varieties, and they are each making a clean, free, rapid 

 growth, and promise in time to make grand specimens. 



