54 ON THE CORSICAN. AUSTRIAN, AND DOUGLAS FIRS 



nearly resembles Pinns Pallasiana, but botb are inferior as 

 wood to Pinus Laricio. The leaves of the Austrian pine are 

 easily distinguished from those of the Corsican, by their being 

 rather longer, and devoid of the twisted appearance which those 

 of the latter present. As a tree to employ as a nurse in sheltered 

 valleys it is invaluable, owing to its dense head, spreading arms, 

 and rapid growth ; and to be cut out when it has not attained full 

 size, it is more valuable than the Scots fir, as it can be profitably 

 used for country purposes at a younger age than almost any other 

 fir. Lamp-black and charcoal of excellent quality can be obtained 

 from its branches, and the thinnings are in its native country much 

 sought after by coopers and carpenters. 



We proceed now to consider the Corsican fir (Pinus Laricio), 

 and its suitability for general and extended cultivation in this 

 country. This pine was first discovered in dense forest masses in 

 Corsica, whence it was introduced into this country towards the 

 end of the eighteenth century. It has since been found over several 

 countries of Southern Europe, including Spain, Greece, and Italy, 

 and it abounds on the mountain lands of Calabria. In these, its 

 native habitats, it attains to a height of 140 feet, and forms a noble 

 tree of bold, erect, open habit. The wood is extremely resinous, tough, 

 and, although tending to coarseness, not so brittle as Scots fir or 

 Austrian pine of equal age, but is elastic and durable ; under the 

 tools of the carpenter, it works smoothly and easily, and is much 

 prized for many outdoor or constructive purposes. Felled when 

 about seventy or eighty years old, the wood is found to be well 

 matured, and of a whitish colour, and brown near the heart. 



In this country, the Laricio has been extensively planted during 

 recent years as a timber crop, and since the larch failure, probably 

 this conifer more than any other has been substituted for it. It 

 thrives in almost any soil where the Scots fir or spruce succeeds, 

 but will not attain its full development at the higher altitudes, pre- 

 ferring a rather good deep soil and sheltered situation in its younger 

 stages ; for being of very rapid growth and early vigorous habit, like 

 P. austriaca, it is apt to form a top rapidly, which the slower for- 

 mation of roots cannot support during high gales of wind. In this 

 respect, however, it does not equal the Austrian pine, and is 

 materially assisted by its characteristic tendency to throw the vigour 

 of its growth more into the trunk and terminal leader, than to form 

 a dense head or many heavy side branches. Another benefit accru- 

 ing from this erect or fastigiate habit is the ultimately enhanced 



