CHAP. CXIll. CONi'fER.*:, Pl^NLS. 2167 



clay, inferior tb the generality of the subsoil in Duthel and Glenniore. The 

 quality of soil in the Highlands seems, in no degree, to alter the external 

 appearance and figure of the pines. Under every circumstance, they assume 

 a rough and shaggy form. In general, they are older than most plantations 

 throughout Scotland, and ai'e of greater size, even in proportion to their age. 

 Notwithstanding this, it is very uncommon to see a single tree in a decayin* 

 state. We observed several trunks that had a few feet of timber scooped out 

 from the side of each, to be used as candles by the cotters, yet the trees con- 

 tinue quite green and healthy, with the hollows overhung with turpentine 

 icicles several inches in length. The pines grown in these districts appear to 

 be of one species, and dilfer from the great bulk of those produced in the low 

 counties of Scotland in the following respects : — The Highland Pine is of a 

 more robust and shaggy appearance. In early life it grows, although crowded 

 together, to a greater girt ; it is found to attain a greater size on very wet 

 ground ; its wood is redder and harder, consequently more durable, and is 

 found to be more inflammable. It produces very few fertile flowers or cones, 

 and what it does produce are uniformly found to be rounder, smaller, and 

 whiter; and it outUves many generations of the common cultivated fir, and 

 ultimately attains a larger size. It may be difficult to ascertain the differences 

 in plants necessarj- to constitute a distinct species, but, if the superioritv of 

 the Highland pine to the common tree of the low countries should not be 

 attributed to a difference in kind, the great proportion of the trees in Scot- 

 land, by repeated cultivation, must have lamentably degenerated ; since it is 

 known, that thousands of the common fir have arrived at maturity, and thou- 

 sands have died of old age, without ever producing timber in any respect 

 comparable to that of the districts now attempted to be described ;' and they 

 who aim not to propagate these magnificent objects of nature, overlook that 

 analogy which is every where observable in the works of creation." {Ibid.') 



The influence of these various climates and soils on the Scotch pine is so 

 great as almost to change its character. In Spain, and in the south or 

 France, it flowers in March ; in the climate of Paris, about the end of April ; 

 in that of London, about May ; and in the Highlands of Scotland, and in 

 Norway, it flowers from the beginning till the middle of June. On the north 

 side of the Highland and Norwegian mountains, where it is crowded together, 

 and on the plains of the north of Germany and Russia, where the trees also 

 stand in close woods, they are drawn up to a great height, and produce clean 

 straight timber. On elevated irregular surfaces, and in very poor soil, the 

 trees, w hen crowded, are often stunted ; and, when scattered, become tortuous 

 bushes, or low branchy trees. The leaves and cones vary, in these situations, 

 as much as the entire tree ; and the quality of the timber as much as the ex- 

 terior appearance. 



History. The Pmus sylvestris was doubtless known to the Greeks and 

 Romans. (See p. 19.) Pliny, as we have seen (p. 2 II •2.), expressly mentions 

 the wild pine, which was called pitvida, from the name of the nymph Pitvs 

 (see p.-2i21.); and that the fruit of it was considered an excellent remedy tor 

 a cough, (lib. XV. c. 10.) The first modern record of the tree is by Matthiolus, 

 who calls it Pinus sylvestris montana; and the first of these epithets, sylves- 

 tris, was adopted as a specific name by Linnsus. Miller, in the earlier edi- 

 tions of his Dictionary, made four species, P. sylvestris, P. rubra, P. tatarica, 

 and P. montana; but these are now (as we have seen, p. 2150.) considered 

 by most botanists as only varieties ; viz. P. s. vulgaris, P. s. horizontalis or 

 P. s. rigensis, P. (s.) pumilio,and P. (s.) p. Mughus. The different qualities 

 of the timber of this tree, according to the soil and situation in which it was first 

 grown, seem to have been ascertained in England in the time of Evelyn ; but it 

 was not till long after his time that it was generally known that the red wood 

 and yellow deals and planks of the Baltic, so generally esteemed throuiihout 

 Europe, were produced by the Scotch pine. This point seems to havt'been 

 determined by Pallas and Cox, and made generally known by the latter in his 

 Travels, which were published in 1784. The tree only began to be planted 



