THE TRUE PINES. 185 



from Frioul to Nice, especially in the sandy soil of the valleys ; 

 it is also found in the Northern Apennines. Its upper limit on 

 the Southern slope of the Alps is at 5,000 or 6,000 feet of 

 elevation, while on the Northern slope it is not found higher 

 than 4,000 feet, and as a general rule it cannot be said to exist 

 lower than 2,000 feet above the sea. It is found in Scandina- 

 via, its northern limit, in lat. 70°, where it constitutes im- 

 mense forests of fine timber ; it also grows wild in Scot- 

 land, in the Sandy Plains of the North of Germany, in the 

 mountains of Central Europe, and in the valley of the Rhine, 

 the Tyrol, Bavaria, and towards the West it is found as far as 

 the Pyrenees ; and varieties are even found in Persia and 

 the Caucasus, but not in North America, as stated by some 

 writers. It is like all species of trees which have an extensive 

 geographical range, and grow on almost every kind of soil, and 

 at great elevations as well as in the plains ; the varieties are 

 very numerous as regards their exterior appearance, for on poor 

 soil and very elevated situations, fully exposed to the boisterous 

 winds, it becomes a diminutive shrub, while in lower and more 

 favourable situations it becomes a lofty timber tree, growing 

 100 feet high, and four feet in diameter. 



The following are the principal varieties worth distinguishing. 



PiNus sYLVESTRis HORizoNTALis, DoTi, the Highland Pine. 

 Syn. Pinus sylvestris Montana, Hort. 

 „ „ „ rubra, Grigor. 



„ „ Scotica, Willdenow. 



It is also called the Eed Scotch Pine, from the colour of the 

 wood ; the Highland Pine, the Spayside Pine, and the Hori- 

 zontal Scotch Fir. 



This variety has its branches disposed in quite a horizontal 

 direction from the stem of the tree. The leaves are broader 

 and much more glaucous, with the bark on the trunk of the tree 

 not so rugged. Its cones are thicker, and not so much pointed ; 

 and the tree is more hardy when young, and grows freely in 

 almost any kind of soil. 



