GENUS PINUS. 91 



position of the foliage. In favourable places I have noted the 

 upward rate of growth to be lo feet in as many years. 



P. Massoniana, Lambert. {Synonym: P. sinensis, 

 Lambert). China. As seen under cultivation in this country, 

 the present species is spreading, although neat in growth, 

 well branched when growing in the open, while the rich pea- 

 green of the foliage renders it a very distinct and pleasing 

 object. The leaves are stout, 5 inches long, bluntly-pointed, 

 and are borne two in a sheath, and these are so arranged that 

 the general appearance of the tree is rather light and graceful 

 than massive and dense. The cones are smaller than, but re- 

 semble those of, the Scotch pine, being hardly more than i 

 inch long, with a short, stout foot-stalk, and they are produced 

 singly at the tips of the branches, where they cannot readily 

 be seen amongst the long needles. 



Cones are produced at a comparatively early age, and a 

 specimen under observation bore them when ten years old, at 

 which time the height was 12 feet. Being quite hardy, and 

 decidedly ornamental, this tree is worthy of being largely 

 planted for special purposes at least. 



P. Massoniana aurea. This has justly been re- 

 cognised as the best of golden variegated pines, the primrose- 

 yellow colour of the leaves being sharply defined, and the con- 

 trast with the bright green very marked. A great advantage 

 that it possesses over many other variegated conifers is, that 

 the yellow tint becomes all the more pronounced on trees fully 

 exposed to sunlight. As a specimen lawn tree this variety is 

 of great value. Grafted on the common Scotch pine, it does 

 well. 



P- mitiSi Michaux. {Synonyms: P. variabilis, Pursh ; 

 P, echinata, Miller ; P. T(Eda variabilis, Alton.) Eastern 

 United States to Florida and Texas. 1739. This species 

 has no particular value here, whether in an ornamental way or 

 for the value of the timber produced ; though in the latter re- 

 spect it is one of the most precious of the North American 

 pines. After the first ten years have been passed this 

 tree seems to start and make headway in these islands, but 



