EXTRA-TROPICAL FORESTRY IN PORTUGAL. 7 I 



species in Portugal, is the Cluster Pine (^Pinus pinaster), the same 

 tree which (under the name of the Maritime Pine) has trans- 

 formed the dreary malaria-stricken " Landes " of Southern France. 

 It is the Cluster Pine also which, on its own merits, has become 

 the most abundant coniferous tree in South Africa. The Cluster 

 Pine and the Stone Pine were introduced into South Africa some 

 three hundred years ago, and have now become completely 

 naturalised there, in the sense that they have taken the place of 

 the weak natural forest flora of the country, and would remain 

 there if the hand of man were withdrawn. 



In the centre of a large pine forest area in Portugal is the State 

 forest of Leiri'a, comprising over thirty thousand acres. It has 

 long been worked for timber of large dimensions, and is perhaps 

 the best example of a highly cultivated pine forest in the extra- 

 tropics. The temperature here is between that of Sydney and 

 Melbourne ; the rainfall is similar except that it falls almost 

 entirely in winter. Timber of the finest description is seen in the 

 Leiri'a forest, as fine as any timber in the best forest of Central 

 and Northern Europe. I measured trees up to 35 inches 

 diameter and 158 feet total height, and I saw great baulks of 

 timber being taken out of the forest, such as one sees in the Black 

 Forest of Germany. One usually associates Cluster Pine with 

 pit-props, sleepers, and small timber ; but the State forest of 

 Leiri'a produces pine timber which is used /i?r every purpose of 

 house-building and furniture. To protect the forest from fire 

 during the dry summer weather, there is a complete system of 

 fire-paths, watch-towers and telephones. The area of private 

 Cluster Pine forest in Portugal is very large. This is mainly 

 occupied in providing mine-props for England. Not much resin 

 is produced in either State or private forest in Portugal. 



Cork Oak {Quercus suber). — After tbe Cluster Pine the next 

 most valuable forest tree in Portugal is the Cork Oak, The 

 Cluster Pine and the Cork Oak together enable Portugal to 

 export about ^1,250,000 worth of forest produce yearly. 



BusACO Cedar {Cupressus lusitanica) has been naturalised in 

 Portugal about as long as the two pines in South Africa. 

 My friend, Dr Henry, has shown that it came originally from 

 Mexico ; it now produces the most valuable timber in the natural 

 forests of Portugal. It should occupy a prominent place in any 

 scheme of extra-tropical forestry. It is a most beautiful and 

 valuable tree. 



