102 NATURAL HISTORY OP SCOTCH FIR. 



" The strobile or cone remains very small during the first year of its 

 appearance. In the following spring it begins to enlarge, and it attains 

 its full development towards the end of summer. It is ripe in the 

 beginning of November ; but it does not open its scales to allow the 

 seed to escape until the spring following, so it requires in all at least 

 eighteen months to ripen, or about two years to mature and drop 

 the seed. 



" The first warmth of the spring acts on the cones ; the scales open 

 without detaching themselves from the axis, and thus they allow the 

 seed to escape ; this is small and winged. 



" The tree attains its complete fertility towards the fortieth year of 

 its age ; the fruit appears about every two or three years. 



" Young Plants. — These are very robust from their first appearance; 

 but they do not stand a protracted shade. In general they may be 

 reared without shelter ; but on ground which is very dry, or with a 

 complete southern exposure, it would be beneficial to have them 

 shaded during the first year of their growth, 



" Leafage. — The leaves are somewhat long ; but as they rarely re- 

 main on the tree above three years, it follows that it creates only a 

 lightish shade. 



" Roots. — These are strong and disposed to bury themselves. 

 When the soil permits the tap-root descends a mfetre or more, although 

 a less depth can suffice to ensure the tree a pretty fine vegetation. 

 In ground which is moist, or poor, or deficient in depth, the tap-root 

 disappears almost entirely, and the lateral roots run along the 

 surface and manifest a disposition, as do some other coniferae, to 

 introduce and fix themselves in the fissures of rocks ; but this super- 

 ficial growth of the roots is not so favourable to the growth of the 

 tree. 



" Growth and Longevity. — The vegetation is very rapid from the 

 first years of its growth ; when the soil is adapted to it, it lengthens 

 sometimes in its youth a mkre or more per annum. It lives for 200 

 years, and attains to a height of 33 metres and more, with a diameter 

 of from 1 m^tre to 1 mfetre 20 centimetres at the base." 



I have met with few trees more extensively difi'used over Europe 

 than is this. I have met with it in different countries under different 

 names, but the tree was the same, and the botanical designation 

 everywhere the same. The specific sameness of varieties or sub- 

 varieties presenting very different appearances, has been demonstrated 

 by M. de Yilmorin, on property belonging to him at Barres, in the 



