84 FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



ruined garden, are left behind, and the vegetation 

 changes completely. 



The pine woods consist chiefly of plantations of 

 Pinus maritima, or pinaster, which have been planted 

 for practical purposes, and have replaced the more 

 beautiful chestnut woods, which were wantonly 

 destroyed. These pines, being of rapid growth, are 

 soon cut down, and provide timber for firewood, 

 garden and vine trellises in fact, are strictly 

 utilitarian. The roots and stumps are burnt on the 

 ground, and then possibly a crop of some sort is 

 sown before the fresh pine seed is put in. This 

 system has been the means of saving some of the 

 more valuable and beautiful native trees, which at 

 one time were ruthlessly felled ; and even the forests 

 in the interior, so necessary for the preservation of 

 the water-sources, were threatened with destruction. 

 Interspersed with the plantations of pine-trees are 

 broad stretches of the common broom, which is 

 sown extensively on the mountain-sides, either for 

 the purpose of being cut down for firing, or to be 

 burnt on the spot every five or seven years to 

 fertilize the ground, and cause it to produce a 

 single crop of wheat or batatas. The twigs and 

 more slender branches are commonly used for 

 making into faggots, and numbers of country- 



