Scotch Pine. 



Scotch Pine. (Pinus sylvestris, L,inn.). This is the 

 common timber pine throughout northern Europe and ex- 

 tends far into Siberia. Leaves, two in a sheath, one and 

 one-half to two inches long, bluish-green, somewhat twisted. 

 The seed is very plentiful and cheap, being picked up as a 

 waste product mainly in western Europe but occasionally 

 seed is gathered further east on the Eurasian continent 

 which furnishes hardier trees. As ordinarily obtained the 

 seed is from the mild, moist climate of western Europe and 

 from dwarf, scrubby trees on poor land. The Scotch pine 

 has been planted more extensively than any other evergreen 

 in the prairie northwest, and is popular for its rapid growth 

 when young. However, it becomes open in habit when old. 

 It often begins to fail when about twenty years old and when 

 on dry soil is apt to die out soon after when it should be at- 

 taining stateliness and beauty. Upon moist soils and shelt- 

 ered localities it lasts longer. Upon the grounds of this 

 Station, the Scotch pine has been planted to a considerable 

 extent. Those in shelter of deciduous trees planted in 1888 

 show no signs of failing, while those in exposed situations 

 on the lawn, with no protection from the windsweep, are 

 showing marks of the severe test. 



In government forestry planting in Russia, great differ- 

 ence has been found in the Scotch pine from various local- 

 ities. Trees grown from seed obtained in France and Ger- 

 many, are greatly inferior in hardiness and vigor and 

 rapidity of growth to trees grown from North Russia and 

 Siberian seed. The same difference has been observed in the 

 Norway spruce. Hence great care is now taken to have the 

 seed gathered from the erect-growing giants of the forest 

 instead of from low scrubby specimens. Our present com- 

 mercial system of securing tree-seeds is not calculated to fur- 

 nish the most desirable variety. 



C. W. Gurney, Yankton, S. D., who has worked with 

 evergreens for forty years in Iowa, northern Nebraska and 



