PINACE^ 159 



In the Botany Reports of the Princetown University Expedi- 

 tions, 1896-1899, it is referred to as follows : " Araucaria im- 

 hricata forests are met with within the coast Cordillera up to a 

 height of about 1,500 m. and in the Cordillera up to 1,800 m. 

 In S. Chile to the south of 30° 30' lat. ; N. Patagonia to 45° 30' 

 lat. principally on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera, also along 

 the uppermost rivers forming gallery forest. It is also dis- 

 tributed on the west side of the Cordillera, viz. in the uppermost 

 section of the evergreen forest." It was discovered about 1780 

 and was introduced fifteen years later by Archibald Menzies, 

 who visited the coast of Chile at that time with Captain Van- 

 couver. Menzies brought home living plants which he had raised 

 on board ship, and one of them was sent to Kew, where it was 

 eventually planted on a lawn near the present Cactus House. 

 For a number of years it was carefully covered during winter 

 to protect it from cold. Eventually it died, in 1892, at the age 

 of nearly 100 years. 



This Araucaria did not become common in cultivation until 

 William Lobb sent home in 1844 a good supply of seeds, which 

 produced most of the finest trees now in England. 



The wood is yellowish, straight-grained, and easily worked. 

 Knots, when present, are dark brown firmly fixed and afford a 

 striking contrast to the rest of the wood. It is used for building 

 purposes, masts, the indoor finish of houses, boxes, paper pulp, 

 and most of the purposes for which pine is employed in the 

 northern hemisphere. Timber produced in this country is of 

 moderately good quality, although usually knotty. If obtainable 

 in quantity it would doubtless realize about the same price as 

 Scots pine. In S. America the wood is of considerable com- 

 mercial importance, although it is scarcely known on the European 

 market. The seeds are an important article of food in Chile. 



Araucaria imbricata is one of the most remarkable trees that 

 has been introduced to Britain, for besides being the only hardy 

 Araucaria, it is the only S. American tree hardy in Britain. 

 For many years after its introduction it attracted a good 

 deal of attention and small trees were sold for as much as ten 

 guineas each. It was one of the most treasured occupants 

 of our gardens, and became so popular that it was overplanted 

 and placed amongst most incongruous surroundings. Not 

 many years ago a few trees were growing on the summit of 

 Leitli Hill in Surrey, where, amidst purely British vegetation, 

 they struck a most discordant note. It was also planted in 

 small gardens in front of villa residences, where it looked 

 equally out of place. It is essentially a garden tree, but 

 if planted in parks it should be grouped and not mixed indis- 

 criminately with British types. 



The Chile pine grows best where both soil and climatic con- 



