2278 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART HI. 



retaining its branches from the ground upwards. The tree at Drppmore is 

 nearly as high, though not planted above forty years. 



Geographi/, History, Sfc. P. Cembra is indigenous to the alps of Siberia, 

 to Tartary, Switzerland, Italy, and to Dauphine and other parts of France. 

 According to Kasthofer, it is found to a greater height on the Swiss 

 mountains, than any other species of pine or fir. {Voy., &c., p. IjO.) Villars 

 found it, in Dauphine, on high mountains, growing with different varieties of 

 P. sylvestris, but rare. According to Hoss, it grows on the alps of 

 Hungary and Austria; and, according to Pallas, as we have seen above, 

 it has a very extensive geographical range in Siberia. It was introduced 

 into England by Archibald Duke of Argyll, in 1746; but vvhether from 

 Siberia or Switzerland is uncertain, though, in all probability, from the 

 former country ; as the cones of the origmal tree, still existing at Whitton, 

 answer better to the description of those of P. C. helvetica than to those of P. C. 

 sibirica. The Swiss variety was strongly recommended by the Rev. J. Harte, 

 in his Essays on Husbandry, published in IT-iG; and it is not improbable 

 that it was he who communicated the seeds to the Duke of Argyll, though 

 we have no positive evidence on the subject. Mr. Lambert states that 

 a great many seeds were brought from Switzerland about the end of the 

 last century; and that more than 2000 plants, raised from part of them, 

 were planted at Walcot Hall, the residence of Lord Clive, in Shropshire. 

 These plantations are still in a healthy state, many of the trees having 

 attained the height of 40 ft. or 50 ft., and producing cones. Several trees 

 were also planted, at the same time, at (iledhow, near Leeds, where some 

 of them still exist, and whence arose the name of Gledhow pine, which 

 is often applied to this tree. In 1828, Mr. Lawson of Edinburgh imported a 

 quantity of seeds of P. Cembra from Switzerland; and dispersed them through- 

 out Scotland for experiment ; raising, also, a great many plants in his own 

 nursery. (Quari. Jonrn. of Agric.,\. p. 813.) In 183G, the plants sown in 1828 

 had, in several |)laces in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, attained the 

 height of from 8 ft. to 12 ft. From this, Mr Lawson very properly concludes 

 that, though some varieties of P. Cembra grow remarkably slowly, yet P. 

 C. helvetica, after three or four years' growth, will make annual shoots from 

 1 ft. to 18 in., or even 2 ft., annually in length. There can therefore be 

 no doubt, he says, but that this variety, from the high altitude at which 

 it naturally grows, is well adapted to clothe the tops of many hitherto 

 almost barren mountains in Scotland, not only with fresh and luxuriant 

 vegetation, but with valuable timber. (Man., p. 359.) The finest trees 

 in the neighbourhood of London are at Whitton, Kew, Dropmore, and 

 Mill Hill, at all which places they bear cones. The Gledhow pines were 

 examined for us, in October, 1837, by Mr. Murray, nurseryman, Leeds. He 

 found in the plantations at Gledhow several trees, most of which were of 

 small dimensions, and going fast to decay ; particularly those in exposed 

 situations. The largest and best tree which he found was 35 ft. high, with a 

 trunk 3 tit. 2 in. in circumference, at 3 ft. from the ground, after being planted 

 from 45 to 50 years. It stands on a lawn sheltered from the north, east, 

 and west, and exposed to the south. The tree is now abundant in the 

 nurseries, and, being remarkably hardy, is likely to be soon generally 

 distributed ; but, owing to its very slow growth, it will be liable to be 

 choked by the trees among which it is planted, unless greater attention 

 be paid to thinning and pruning than is generally the case in ornamental 

 plantations. 



Properties and Uses. The wood of P. Cembra is very soft ; and its grain 

 is so fine, that it is scarcely perceptible. According to the Kouvcau Du 

 Hamel, it is very resinous, which is the cause of its agreeable fragrance. 

 It is not commonly large enough to be used in carpentry; but in joinery 

 it is of great value, as it is remarkably easy to be worked, and is of great 

 durability. In Switzerland, it is very much used by turners ; and the shep- 

 herds of the Swiss Cantons, and of the Tyrol, occupy their leisure hours 



