ON RAISING PLANTS OF THE PINUS TRIBE FROM SEED. 205 



Nature would assuuie in this moist climate. The particles of this green 

 powder must be exceedingly minute, as it remains invisible until great 

 masses are collected togetlier : now it is obvious where this adlieres to 

 a tree it must close up its pores, and thereby prevent the vessels from 

 being acted upon by the external air. I, likewise, tliink it receives 

 nourishment by exhausting the sap in the bark, Mhich will first begin 

 to crack, and afterwards die and fall off. I am the more induced to 

 form this opinion by having seen an experiment tried to destroy it : 

 this was done by using the common solution of soft soap and sulphur- 

 vivum mixed with boiling lime-water till it became of tlie consistence 

 of paint. This, when cold, was applied with a paint-brush to part off 

 the branches of a young tree that were covered with tliis green mould, 

 yet the bark was free from cracks. Tlie bark of the part thus dressed 

 iDecame in a short time clear and entirely free, whilst the remainder 

 of the tree was still clothed with its green garb. I would recommend 

 all gardeners, who have trees or shrubs in this condition, to give them 

 a dressing onr^e or twice in the winter season, and I doubt not tliat it 

 will answer their highest expectations. A sprinkling of quick lime in 

 a powdered state over the affected parts, after a shower of rain or 

 strong dew, I have found to be equally useful wherever it touched. 



ON RAISING PLANTS OF THE PINUS TRIBE FROM 



SEED. 



BY A COUNTRY SQUIRE. 



This beautiful tribe of trees has now become very popular, and their 

 introduction into our pleasure-grounds, parks, &c., are much extending, 

 and as cones of seed are now-a-days liberally given, even of the rarest 

 and finest species, I am induced to send some observations on raising 

 plants therefrom, &c. 



Mr. Gordon gave some excellent observations upon this subject, 

 which were inserted in tlie " Gardeners' Chronicle" five or six years 

 back, and which mode of procedure I duly attended to, and have proved 

 to be very successful. I therefore make an extract from the same, to 

 which I add other observations, and respectfully solicit their insertion 

 in an early Number of your jMagazine, and which I hope will in 

 some degree contribute to promote a still greater extension of planting 

 and ornamenting around our habitations with these very admirable 

 (generally evergreen) trees. 



" The Pine and Fir tribe are increased by seeds, which are produced 

 in great abundance wlien the plants attain a certain age, and which are 

 generally ripe in the autumn, the cones taking from fifteen to eigiiteen 

 montlis before tliey come to maturity. The cones sliould be gathered 

 at tlie beginning of winter ; they should be placed in some cool but 

 dry place until tlie end of Marcli, at which time tlie seeds should be 

 taken out of the cones, which in some cases is difficult without injuring 

 tliem, particularly if they are kiln dried, as the seeds are easily damaged 

 by fire-heat. 'J'iio cones of som.e kinds are so hard — of Oocarpa, for 

 example — that it Mould fake weeks on tiie kihi before tiiey would open. 

 The safest way is to bore a liole through the centre, beginning at the 



