HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES 147 



valuable species. It is a tree of giant proportions, 

 with huge, unwieldy branches, ponderous trunk, 

 covered with rough scaly bark, and usually a well- 

 rounded head of intense green foliage. The leaves 

 are stout and stiff, 8 inches long, and produced in 

 pairs. A distinguishing characteristic of this pine 

 is the large and densely clustered cones ; they 

 frequently occiu: in groups of from 8 to 20, or more. 

 Each cone measures 6 inches in length, and is of 

 a warm cinnamon tint, similar to portions of the 

 freshly exposed bark. The timber is of little value, 

 but my experiments with it are recorded fully in 

 the chapter on timbers at the end of this volume. 



P. Pinaster Hamiltonii, Gordon, is a very 

 distinct variety, but has escaped the notice of 

 planters to a very great extent. The well-branched 

 stem, rounded head, and distinct shade of green 

 that pervades the foliage are aU points of distinc- 

 tion that cannot be lost sight of when comparing 

 the variety and species. The leaves are shorter 

 and broader, and the cones smaller and ovate 

 rather than truly conical. A refined P. Pinaster, 

 in which the massive, easy appearance of that 

 tree is substituted by a formal and dressy aspect, 

 explains well the character of this variety. It with- 

 stands long-continued storms with almost perfect 

 impunity. Common along the Belgian sand dunes. 



P. Pinaster lemoniana, Loudon, differs in the 

 small erect cones being for the greater part pro- 

 duced singly. The cones are hardly 2 inches long 

 by I J inches diameter, with unarmed or nearly 

 smooth scales. Usually the tree is of small growth, 

 with short leaves 3 inches long. 



P. Pinaster prolifera. — This is not only a 



