HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES 127 



this species is valuable. The habit is irregularly 

 conical, the lower branches having no decided 

 mode of growth, but being short and spreading in 

 almost every direction. In general appearance 

 and foliage the tree bears some resemblance to 

 P. insignis, but is of duller foliage-tint, the leaves 

 arranged in twos, and thickly on the branches. 

 Cones are produced freely, the}' being ovoid-conical, 

 2\ inches long, and grepsh brown in colour. The 

 scales are formidable, the umbo being prolonged 

 into a long, awl-shaped point. The tree varies a 

 good deal in this countr}^ and I have seen speci- 

 mens which, from their depth of fohage colouring 

 and neat narrow pyramidal habit, were highly 

 prized b}' their owTier. It seems most at home 

 when planted in rough, stony, or rocky ground, 

 under which conditions I have known the annual 

 rate of growth to be 2 feet for several consecutive 

 years. 



P. CouLTERi, Don. (S\Tionyms : P. macro- 

 carpa, Lindley ; P. Sabiniana Coulteri," Loudon.) 

 California. 1832. — This can hardly be classed as 

 even a second-rate ornamental conifer in Britain, 

 the shabb}^ meagre, tufted appearance of the 

 foliage and the betrayal of bare branches being 

 out of keeping with our ideas of a beautiful tree. 

 Generally such is the appearance of this species, 

 although at times one may find passable specimens. 

 The leaves are usually arranged in threes, but I 

 have found them in fours and fives on the same 

 tree, though rarely ; stiffish, sharp-pointed, and 

 10 inches long. They are greyish green, and for 

 the greater part in clusters at the branch-tips. 

 The cones are remarkable, being of huge size and 



