THE PINE SUB-FAMILY. 251 



It appears to have no marked preference in regard to 

 soils, excepting that it be not on either of the extremes of 

 wet or dry, and we have seen fine specimens growing in a 

 heavy clay as well as on a light and gravelly loam ; but 

 of the two we would decidedly choose the latter as being 

 more conducive to health and rapidity of growth. 



London devotes several pages in his " Arboretum " to 

 the description of this species, and mentions a number of 

 instances, illustrating the value of its timber, and the zeal 

 displayed in its cultivation for that purpose in England 

 and Scotland. 



A large number of varieties have been advertised by 

 dealers, and quoted by writers, but they so nearly resemble 

 the species as scarcely to be worthy of perpetuation. The 

 best of these is undoubtedly the 



Var. pendula 9 London. A very handsome and graceful 

 plant, that, when grafted on a tall stem, becomes a pleasing 

 addition to our collections. We have grown it for several 

 years, and can fully endorse the many encomiums given 

 it by other writers. The long, slender limbs frequently 

 reach to the ground. 



Var. la\a, Lawson. According to Lawson, this variety 

 may readily be distinguished from the species by its more 

 rapid growth, more horizontal and less crowded branches, 

 and by the darker green or somewhat glaucous color of 

 the foliage. The branches are also larger, thinner, more 

 graceful, and pendent with age, and the cones are some- 

 what distinct. 



Var. C0mpacta 9 Lawson. Gordon classes with those 

 "of only trivial account," but Loudon describes it at some 

 length, as having its branches remarkably thickly inter- 

 woven with one another; with thick, rugged, or scaly 

 bark; very distinct cones, and grassy-green foliage. 

 Growth, very slow. 



Var. rcpens, Lawson. " A tree," says Loudon, " with 



