THE SCOTCH PINE. 368 



they should be light, and frequently repeated up to the age of 

 50 years. This is necessary, as snow breakage may occur 

 during this period, followed by a considerable interruption 

 of the cover. After the age of 50 years the thinnings may 

 be heavier. 



The Sitka spruce, Picea sitchensis (Carr), a tree of North 

 America, has been recommended for cultivation in Europe. 

 Whether it will give better results, than the Norway spruce, 

 has not been proved, the only advantage so far established 

 being, that it is less damaged by deer, owing to the spiky 

 nature of its needles. 



16. Scotch FmE.—Pinm si/lrrstria (L.). 

 a. Utilifi/. 

 The timber has an average specific gravity, air dried = '54, 

 soft, but somewhat harder than that of spruce and silver fir ; 

 durable if not grown too quickly, and impregnated with 

 turpentine, more durable than that of spruce and silver fir. The 

 value of the timber depends much on the locality where it has 

 been grown, the treatment of the woods, and the age of the 

 trees ; the timber of slow grown old trees, if sound, is far 

 superior to that of fast grown or young trees. It is used for 

 a great variety of purposes in the shape of boards, planks, and 

 scantling, for railway sleepers, mining props, and also for 

 wood pulp. It is imported into Britain as red Baltic pine. 

 A fair fuel. It yields turpentine. From the needles an 

 aromatic oil is prepared. 



h. Distribiiiion. 



It is found in Europe between latitude 37° and 70°, also in 

 Asia. The countries around the Baltic and German Ocean are 

 its centre of distribution. Indigenous in Great Britain and 

 Ireland. It is eminently a tree of the low lands ; prefers 

 southern aspects in mountains. It ascends to 2,200 feet in 

 Britain, about the same in Northern Germany, and up to 

 5,000 and sometimes even 6,000 feet in the Alps. 



