8 CONIFEROUS TREES 



used as a forest tree with at least fair prospects of 

 a profitable result. A stiffish soil, such as a good 

 clayey loam, and a northern or western aspect, 

 will be found most suitable for this species, as these 

 considerably retard early growth, the great evil 

 to which the tree is susceptible in our clime. As 

 an ornamental conifer this tree is of considerable 

 importance, the long and lithe branches being well 

 clothed with dark olive -green foliage, while the 

 whole contour is remarkably distinct and pleasing. 

 Usually the lower branches have a wide spread 

 in proportion to the height of the trunk, and are 

 retained in a perfectly healthy condition when 

 the tree is growing in the open. They are thickly 

 covered with stiff, dagger-shaped leaves, each an 

 inch in length, that terminate in a sharply pointed 

 prickle. The cylindrical cones are from 5 inches 

 to 6 inches long, about ij inches in diameter, and 

 with the bracts exceeding the scales in length. 

 Resin exudes freely from the surface of the cones 

 when these are arriving at maturity. Timber of 

 home-grown trees, which I have used experiment- 

 ally for several purposes, appears to be of good 

 quality, and very durable, and the results tend to 

 prove that when of mature age the wood will be 

 of value for outdoor purposes. It is very resinous 

 and firmly packed. 



Under favourable conditions the rate of growth 

 of the tree is about 10 inches a year ; three speci- 

 mens of fifty years' growth which I measured were, 

 on an average, 38 feet high each, thus showing 

 an annual increase in height of 9 inches since they 

 were planted. 



For a full account of this tree, with measure- 



