196 COLONSAY 



poisonous qualities. Yast forests of conifers alone are to Ibe 

 met with in the Northern Hemisphere. The Mammoth Tree 

 of California attains a height of upwards of 400 feet ; the 

 Kedwood, a close ally, also growing to a great size. The 

 Yellow Pine (Giubhas Buidhe), Pitch Pine (G. Dearg), White 

 Pine (G. Geal), etc., are highly valued for building purposes. 

 Large plantations of Larch (Learag), Fir, Spruce, etc., have 

 been made in this country. Cedar (Seudar), Cypress, Juniper, 

 and other ornamental species are commonly planted in pleasure- 

 grounds. Conifers generally do not thrive in the smoky atmo- 

 sphere of towns, nor, unless well screened, in close proximity 

 to the sea. 



Juniperus, L. 



A numerous genus of evergreen shrubs or small trees. 

 The aromatic wood of the American Red Cedar is used in 

 cabinet-making and for lead-pencils. 



J. communis, L. Common Juniper. lubhar Beinne. 

 Frequently prostrate and spreading, sometimes to the length 

 of three or four yards. Dead remains of sterns much larger 

 than those now growing are to be seen. The green branches 

 were burned for fumigating houses after infectious diseases. 

 The berries, which take two years to come to maturity, were 

 used for flavouring whisky, as they still are in other 

 countries for flavouring gin. May. They are diuretic, and 

 yield an oil of medicinal value. 



J. communis, b. intermedia, Nyman. Balanahard hills. 



J. sibirica, Burgsdorf. Rocky hillocks, Poll Gorm and 

 southern end of Ardskenish, in exposed situations. May. 



Pinus, L. 



Though constituting the bulk of the Coniferse in the 

 Northern Hemisphere, this genus is unknown in the southern 

 half of the globe. Austrian, Corsican, Himalayan, and Stone 

 Pines are among those that are commonly planted. The 



