128 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 
severe seasons. In a plantation of this species formed at 
Muckross, near Killarney, in 1876, a considerable number 
of trees were killed in the very cold winter of 1908-1909. 
In the few plantations that have been made in these 
islands, the trees are extremely coarse and the quality of 
the timber very inferior; but the quantity produced is 
probably as much as 200 cubic feet per acre annually. 
Planted pure in close order, Pinus insignis would probably 
produce pit timber that would be highly remunerative in 
suitable localities. The main value of this species les, 
however, in its use for shelter near the sea, where it might 
give protection to valuable plantations of other trees. Its 
rapid growth and dense habit adapt it well for this purpose. 
In Cornwall it stands erect and uninjured in places where 
Cupressus macrocarpa is badly cut by the wind; and it 
much exceeds in height the maritime pine on the sea-coast. 
It is very successful as a wind-break in the most exposed 
localities in the Scilly Isles. The seedlings should be 
transplanted annually for the first two seasons, and be 
planted out in the third year. October is preferred for 
these operations in the Scilly Isles. Pinus insignis will 
succeed in poor, dry, and stony soils ; but is a failure in wet 
soils and in soils containing more than a very small per- 
centage of lime. For a shelter belt, a double or triple 
row, planted quincunx fashion, will usually be sufficient. 
Silver Fir.—The common silver fir, Abzes pectinata, is a 
native of Central Europe, and is the most important species 
of the genus for planting in this country. Abies grandis 
and Abies nobilis, natives of Western North America, are 
also worthy of notice, and will be spoken of later. 
The common silver fir produces an enormous quantity 
of timber, but is not ripe for felling at so early an age as 
larch, Scots pine, Sitka spruce, and Douglas fir. It is 
nevertheless an excellent main-crop tree, which has been 
much neglected in this country. On the Continent it 
inhabits the lower zone of the mountains where the rainfall 
is high, 60 to 80 inches annually, and the soil is fairly deep, 
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