SCOTCH PINE 177 



and is esteemed a valuable wood. It furnishes the red and 

 yellow " deals " of the United Kingdom. It is also chemi- 

 cally treated for railroad ties, and is being planted by some 

 railroads in this country for that purpose. 



It is a rapid grower and a prolific seed-bearer, frequently 

 producing seed every other year. The seeds are small, run- 

 ning from 70,000 to 75,000 to the pound, with about fifty 

 per cent of fertility. The wing attached to the seed is pro- 

 portionally larger than the average conifer, which is an ad- 

 vantage in natural seeding, but notwithstanding these fea- 

 tures, so favorable to natural reproduction, that method of 

 propagation is not generally followed abroad, for the tree 

 is easily grown in the nursery and bears transplanting re- 

 markably well. Plants may be set out in the forest when 

 two years old, or may be left in the seed-bed for another 

 year, but they would best be removed from there and placed 

 in the transplant nursery, there to remain for two years, 

 when they will be strong enough to withstand severe condi- 

 tions in the forest. It is a much more rapid grower in early 

 life than our White Pine, and seedlings three years old 

 generally range from eight to twelve inches in height. Pro- 

 pagation and planting in the forest is carried on in Europe 

 substantially the same as for White Pine. 



