270 



natural forests the free is considered to be at its best for felling 

 between 250 and 300 years of age. Moderately close planting is 

 advisable, for trees grown wide apart are inclined to produce 

 coarse timber. A point which is strongly in favour of the ex- 

 tended planting of Corsican pine is its practical immunity from 

 attack by rabbits. The species has been tapped for resin, but 

 with little success in comparison to other kinds. Next to the 

 Scots pine it is the most profitable pine to plant under forest con- 

 ditions in this country. 



P. Laricio var. nigricans, Pari. (var. austriaca Endl.).^ 

 Austrian Pine. 



Of tlie several varieties of P, Laricio this is most widely 

 grown. It is easily distinguished by its dense branch system 

 and heavy leafage, the leaves remaining on the trees for 4 or 5 

 years. It produces coarse timber of little value in this country, 

 but is invaluable for purposes of shelter and is often used for 

 protection in exposed positions. The branches are retained to 

 the ground line, and trees which are exposed to the full fury of 

 winds direct from the sea develop as sturdy, heavily-branched 

 bushes or small trees, forming excellent protection for more use- 

 ful timber trees in the background. 



P. montana, l/z7Zer.— Mountain Pine. 



This is a low-growing bushy species from the mountains of 

 Central and southern Europe. It varies a good deal in habit, 

 but IS usually from 3-12 feet in height. A small economic 

 value attaches to it as a source of pine oil, but its principal value 

 to the forester is for planting on exposed land at a higli elevation 

 to provide shelter for young trees of more important species. 

 J he variety uncinata, however, has some value as a timber tree. 

 It is lound m the eastern and central Pyrenees, the French 

 Alps, and m restricted areas in Switzerlajid, as a tree often 60- 

 80 or sometimes 100 feet high, with a girth which may be as much 

 llaa ^l \ , . , *^^^ Pyrenees it occurs at elevations of 5000^ 



11 ^%^ ^T- ^^^*^stands a considerable amount of wind and 



^ ,1 1^'' }^ ^^"^^o^ '* ^' ^^^^«' planted in exposed positions 

 m^the Highlands of Scotland where other trees fail 



mo;ifa/ia produces its leaves in pairs. They are 2-2i inches 

 _ arranged closely on the branches and are enclosed at the 

 base by a short sheath. The cones are from 1-2 inches Ions? 

 and rarely more than an inch wide. 



P. Peuke, G^ri5€&ac^.— Macedonian Pine. 



Ihis has been spoten of as the European counterpart of the 

 twn /!■!/'''" or Himalpyan blue pine (P. exceha. Wall.), but the 

 >ut;.t '7 ^'t v'^ ?^ r^"'"^^^ characters. Its region of distri- 

 nelrn ^if^"^°^^ Y"}}^'^ ^o Macedoma, Bulgaria: and Monte- 

 lOOfpW Wl'' -if ^-^^'if" P- 10^5, refcu- to it as growing 

 wlT ^ ^''?'^ ^'2f' ^^ 5-^ ^eet i^ Bulgaria, but its average 



sevor.l 'if ^"^''^' ^'^''.' '^ltl^«".^l^ it is of slower growth than 

 m^^ tLf T 7^^\^«Pean pines. Its branch system is more com- 

 pact than that of P. e:ccelsa, and the tree has a stiffer and more 



long, 



