106 THE NEW FORESTRY. 



in Yorkshire and elsewhere, but, as a rule, poles of the above 

 age, owing to their having too much room, are usually so rough 

 as to be unsaleable. It is best grown as pure forest, and it 

 should be planted on a large scale. The price of Scotch fir 

 varies from sixpence to ninepence per foot. 



CORSICAN FlR. Pinus laricio. If the Scotch fir is ever 

 superseded we venture to think that it will be by this species, 

 which appears to have all the good qualities of the Scotch fir, 

 with the advantage that it beats the latter in bulk of timber 

 from the first. This is due, no doubt, to the fact that the leaf 

 surface of the Corsican fir is considerably greater, than that of 

 the Scotch fir, and timber is consequently laid on more quickly. 

 it has been planted extensively on the Wortley estate in 

 a variety of soils and situations and at different elevations, 

 and this description holds good in every instance. It is also 

 very favourably reported on by foresters, generally, in these 

 respects. It does not transplant well in winter, but if planted 

 early in August, September and October, or in April and May, 

 the failures are quite as few as in the Scotch fir. When the 

 Corsican fir began to be planted it was often confounded with 

 the Austrian fir, which was often substituted for it ; but how- 

 ever nearly related botanically the two may be, they are 

 perfectly distinct as forest trees, and both kinds are now easily 

 distinguished by their foliage and habit anywhere and at all 

 ages. The Corsican fir is of a rather cylindrical, thin habit, 

 and the leaves have a twist and colour by which it is easily 

 distinguished from the rigid-spined, bushy Austrian. The 

 latter also varies considerably in habit, while the, Corsican is 

 generally true to its character. It thrives in almost any 

 soil, and were it desired to plant fir extensively anywhere we 

 should certainly plant Scotch and Corsican firs, and expect the 

 latter to take the lead from the beginning. 



CLUSTER FlR. Pinus -pinaster. This is another very 

 useful fir for planting near the sea-side. It has been exten- 

 sively and successfully planted on the west coast of France 

 within the last hundred years, and now yields a variety of 

 useful forest products there, including pit-props, quantities of 

 which are exported to Wales for the coal pits there. It also 

 grows well close to the sea near Bournemouth and elsewhere. 



AUSTRIAN FlR. Pinus Austriaca. This is an exceedingly 

 hardy species anywhere and in any soil. It varies in habit, 

 but generally it is of bushy, dense habit, and of a slower 

 height-growth than the Scotch or Corsican firs. It is one of 

 the very best species to plant for shelter purposes, but is an 



