THE CONIFERS 171 



fungus (Armillarea melled), the red-rot root fungus (Fames 

 annosns\ and the pine blister (Peridermium pint), do much 

 harm. With so many insects and fungi attacking Scotch 

 (and other) pines, it is especially necessary to keep the woods 

 clean by having light thinnings made every five years to 

 remove dead wood and unhealthy trees. In pure woods the 

 thinnings should be light in character throughout the rotation 

 so as to keep a complete cover over the ground, but if the 

 woods are to be underplanted, with the intention of growing 

 them to a long rotation, they should be made heavier about 

 the fortieth year so as to admit sufficient light for the under- 

 crop, and to encourage the pines to increase rapidly in girth. 



The Austrian pine (Pinus austriaca). 



A native of Austria, it was introduced into Great Britain in 

 1835. It is a very hardy tree and can- be grown at high 

 elevations, and also near the sea, as it withstands wind. It 

 will do well on any aspect. It is a light-demander, but will 

 stand side-shade rather better than the Scotch pine. It is 

 very accommodating as to soil, but does not do well on stiff 

 wet ground ; it thrives on limy soil. It is not as valuable as 

 the Scotch or Corsican pines and should not be grown on 

 a large scale. Its chief use will be as a shelter belt ; for this 

 purpose it is excellent, as it forms a thick hedge when allowed 

 to branch low down, and grows rapidly when young. It is 

 also useful for planting on poor limy soil and on dry chalks 

 which have deteriorated ; it would soon improve such a soil 

 and could be cut at an early age, when a more valuable 

 species could be substituted for it. The timber is coarser 

 than that of Scotch pine. Austrian pine is attacked by the 

 same insects and fungi which damage the Scotch pine. 



The Corsican pine (Pimis Laricio). 



This tree is a very close relative of the Austrian pine, but 

 it is a native of Corsica and southern Europe. It was intro- 

 duced into Great Britain in 1759. It is a hardy tree, but does 



