GIGANTIC CONES. 109 



a foot and a half in length. It is a native of the 

 north-west coast of North America, being introduced 

 into England by Douglas in the year 1827, who, 

 describing one which had been blown down by the 

 wind, by no means the largest tree amongst many, 

 found that it measured 215 feet in length, or height, 

 while its enormous trunk, at three feet from the ground, 

 measured fifty-seven feet nine inches, and at 134 feet 

 from the ground, seventeen feet five inches, the trunk 

 being unusually straight and destitute of branches. 

 Large districts in North America, about a hundred 

 miles from the sea, in latitude 43 degrees north, and 

 extending as far to the south as 40 degrees, are 

 covered by this tree, which is often found growing in 

 sand which appears incapable of sustaining vegeta- 

 tion. In this poor soil it attains its greatest size, and 

 perfects its fruit in the most complete abundance. 



The plant is perfectly hardy, and resists the 

 severest seasons, but it is difficult to procure the 

 seeds, which makes it very scarce and expensive. 

 When only one-year old seedlings, they will sustain 

 without injury the influence of the sharpest winters. 

 The plant has an elegant appearance whilst growing" 

 in its earlier stages, its leaves being of a bright grassy 

 green, four inches long, and five in a sheath. Its 

 annual shoots are considerably shorter than those of 

 the Weymouth pine, rarely exceeding twelve inches 

 in length ; but as they become ripened before winter, 

 the plant makes good progress, and when quite young 

 is remarkable for its great girth in proportion to its 

 height. 



There are many other American pines, possess- 

 ing distinguishing qualities, as Banksiana, Pungens, 



