PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



at considerable altitudes. The timber of the Austrian pro- 

 duced in this country is certainly of no mean quality, for we 

 have cut up several of the largest trees produced in England, 

 and in all cases the firmness 'and weight of the planks have 

 been surprising. Few soils come amiss to the Austrian, it 

 thriving luxuriantly even on that of very poor description, 

 and where few other pines could eke out an existence. On 

 dry, calcareous soils it is quite at home, and covers vast 

 plains of chalky ground in Lower Austria, where hardly 

 anything elsewill "grow, and has also been successfully 

 planted in the barren, chalky plains of Champagne Pouil- 

 leuse, in France. In almost every part of the British Isles 

 this pine has been planted in quantity, and in no single 

 instance has dissatisfaction with its general character been 

 expressed a fact that speaks volumes in its favour. 



The Cluster Pine (P. Pinaster). Long experience has 

 proved this pine to be a most valuable tree for sheltering 

 purposes, particularly in maritime districts, though an 

 almost worthless species as far as timber value is concerned. 



This latter quality can, however, very well be dispensed 

 with when we look at the great value of the tree for planting 

 as a screen to others of a less hardy nature, and in positions 

 where these could not otherwise survive. Many instances 

 of its value in this way might be pointed out in England 

 and Scotland, and also of the use to which it is applied in 

 the reclaiming of sandy, seaside wastes. Few there are who 

 do not know of the invaluable services rendered by this tree 

 in fixing the drifting sands on the dunes of Gascony, as well 

 as those of several British seaside coasts. In such instances 

 as these the value of the timber produced by so admirable 

 a seaside and shelter-producing tree as P. Pinaster was 

 never taken into account, more than sufficient benefit being 

 derived from the numerous other trees that, by its friendly 

 aid, were permitted to grow on these exposed and wind- 

 swept-wastes. It grows and produces large quantities of 

 timber when planted on almost pure sand indeed, sandy or 

 gravelly soil and a maritime situation would seem to be twx> 

 of the conditions under which the Pinaster succeeds best. 

 Of late years the Pinaster has been extensively used in the 



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