128 FOEESTS, WOODS, AND TKEES 



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, Finns insignis would probably 

 produce pit timb/er that would be highly remunerative in 

 suitable localities. The main value of this species lies, 

 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, Abies 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. 



