150 NATURAL HISTORY OP MARITIME PINE. 



" The fertility of this tree is extraordinary ; it bears fruit almost 

 every year, beginning at the age of twelve or fifteen, sometimes earlier ; 

 to ensure, however, the goodness of this, seed should always be 

 collected from older trees. 



" Young Plants. — The maritime pine is hardy from the first ; and 

 all prolonged shelter is hurtful. It is only on the burning dunes of 

 Gascony, and in the warm exposures of the south of France, that shelter 

 is needed for the first few years. 



" Foliage. — Although the leaves of the maritime pine are very long 

 they only cast a feeble shade. They fall in the third year like those 

 of the Scotch fir. 



" Boots. — This tree has a tap-root which buries itself deeply in the 

 ground ; it has besides creeping roots which all along their length 

 throw out loug tap-roots; this tendency, along with its rapid growth, 

 makes it very suitable for binding the moving sand on the Dunes. 



*' Growth and Length of Life. — The maritime pine grows very rapidly 

 and it attains a large size. In one district of the Dunes of Gascony, 

 where the soil is deep and nutritious, several trees, from which the 

 resin has not been extracted, are to be seen about from 27 to 30 

 metres in height by about 2, 3, and 4 in circumference, at the height 

 of one metre above the ground. The size is well proportioned and the 

 trees have a cylindrical form. They reach an age of 150, or 170, 

 years without showing symptoms of decay. We may therefore believe 

 that the maritime pine may reach an age of 200 in suitable soil. 



" Qualities and Uses. — The wood of the maritime pine is considered 

 inferior to that of the Scotch fir and many other resinous trees. But 

 it is not the less made use of for various structures. In dock-yards 

 it is made into props and stays to support vessels during the process 

 of building. It is also sold for vine props and planks. 



" The firewood and charcoal of this pine are of indiflferent quality. 



" We may, however, be deceived regarding the value of the mari- 

 time pine. In order to the formation of an authoritative judgment, 

 it ought above all things to be grown in suitable conditions of soil and 

 climate, and to be treated according to the best methods of exploi- 

 tation, besides which, it should be protected from pruning and the 

 extraction of resin. 



" Now, in the department of the Gironde and of the landes, this 

 extraction, called gemmage, and gemmer, has been carried on on the 

 Dunes for several centuries ; and in districts elsewhere called landes, 

 where the soil is usually poor and gemmage uafrequent, the maritime 

 pine is exploited when very young, either for joiners' work, or for tre)- 



