280 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBOKICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



planted in suitable soils and situations in the British Isles, for 

 that thei'e are vast tracts of almost worthless land that is well 

 suited for its culture is beyond a doubt. I do not wish it to 

 be inferred from anything here said that the Weymouth pine is 

 suitable for planting at high altitudes and in exposed situations, 

 for such has been long ago proved to be a fallacy ; but that it 

 will grow rapidly and produce useful timber in partially sheltered 

 districts has been proved on various occasions by those who have 

 paid particular attention to the value of exotic conifers as ])rofit- 

 able timber producers in this country. The Weymouth pine has 

 much to recommend it to the British arboricultxirist, for besides 

 the great quantity of valuable timber it produces, it certainly 

 is the handsomest of the genus that have been found to bo 

 perfectly hardy in these isles. Its form is light and elegant, and 

 the silvery glaucous leaves afford a distinct and pleasing contrast 

 with the majority of the cultivated pines. Whether grown as a 

 plantation tree, or singly for purely ornamental purposes, the stem 

 is always straight and clean, and the branches evenly distributed. 

 The Weymouth pine is a tree of very rapid growth, numerous 

 specimens of which I have kept a record having attained to an 

 average height of 57 feet in thirty years. A native of North 

 America, and introduced in 1705. 



88. P. taberculata (Monterey Pine), if only for its rich foliage 

 and persistent cones, is well worthy of a chosen spot where such 

 trees are grown. It is fairly hardy in this country, but of slow 

 growth, and succeeds best when planted in a sheltered and warm 

 situation. A native of California, and introduced in 1847. 



89. Podocarpus alpinus (Alpine Podocarp) is a neat and very 

 distinct conifer, but unfortunately one whose hardihood cannot be 

 relied upon in all parts of this country. It is of rather spreading 

 habit, and with an abundance of short bright-coloured foliage. 

 For planting in a warm corner, and in conjunction with low- 

 growing plants, it is valuable. A native of Tasmania and 

 Victoria. 



90. P. macrophyllus (Broad-leaved Podocarp) is about as hardy 

 as the last mentioned, of taller growth, and with longer and 

 lighter-coloured foliage. A native of Japan, and introduced in 

 1804. 



91. Retinospora ericoides (Heath-like Retinospora). — This is a 

 beautiful shrub, of rarely more than 3 feet to 4 feet in height, 

 and one that is of great value for park or garden ornamentation. 



