58 HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES. 



and broader, and the cones smaller and ovate rather than 

 truly conical, as in the species. A refined Pinaster, in which 

 the massive, easy appearance of that tree is substituted by a 

 formal and dressy aspect, explains well the character of the 

 present variety. It withstands long-continued storms with 

 almost perfect impunity, 



P. Pinaster Lemoniana differs in the small erect 

 cones being for the greater part produced singly. The cones 

 are hardly 2 inches long by \\ inches diameter, and with 

 unarmed scales, or, in other words, are nearly smooth of sur- 

 face. Usually the tree is of small growth, with short leaves 3 

 inches long. 



P. Pinaster prolifera. — This is not only a distinct 

 but very remarkable form of the cluster pine, while at the 

 same time, even under the very best cultivation, it cannot 

 otherwise be described than as an ugly, wretched-looking, and 

 ungainly tree. Some of the oldest specimens I have observed 

 were growing near the remote village of Pentir in Carnarvon- 

 shire ; but which, although ample room for development has 

 been allowed them, are no ornament to the position they 

 occupy, and in consequence several have already been re- 

 moved. The largest hardly exceeded 30 feet in height, and 

 all were remarkable for their contorted and half-dead appear- 

 ance, caused by the stout, tortuous branches having died 

 back, and yet remained in position for fully half the height 

 of the tree. The immense clusters of small cones adhering 

 to the long dead branches further added to the weird appear- 

 ance of these pines ; and in several instances I counted fully 60 

 cones in a single cluster of not more than i foot in length. 

 In some of the cottages these huge clusters of cones were 

 used as ornaments, that portion of the branch on which they 

 grow being inserted in a wooden stand, and the whole varnished 

 over. I counted 65 cones, each fully 2 inches long, in one of 

 these ornamental clusters. Even in colour and shape the 

 cones are exact miniatures of those of the species ; the leaves 

 are only about half as long, and the bark is of a very dark 

 brown colour and flaked. 



