590 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION K. 
Cluster Pine and the Stone Pine were introduced into South Africa some three 
hundred years ago; and have now become completely naturalised there, in the 
sense that they have taken the place of the weak natural forest flora of the 
country; and would remain there if the hand of man were withdrawn. 
In the centre of a large pine forest area in Portugal is the State forest of 
Leiria comprising over thirty thousand acres. It has long been worked for timber 
of large dimensions; and is perhaps the best example of a highly cultivated pine 
forest in the extra-tropics. ‘The temperature here is between that of Sydney and 
Melbourne; the rainfall is similar except that it falls almost entirely in winter. 
Timber of the finest description is seen in the Leiria forest, as fine as any timber 
in the best forest of central and northern Europe. I measured trees up to 
35 inches diameter and 158 feet total height, and [I saw great baulks of timber 
being taken out of the forest, such as one sees in the Black Forest of Germany. 
One usually associates Cluster Pine with pit-props, sleepers, and small timber; 
but the State Forest of Leiria produces pine timber which is used for every 
purpose of house-building and furniture. ‘To protect the forest from fire during 
the dry summer weather, there is a complete system of fire-paths, watch-towers, 
and telephones. The area of private Cluster Pine forest in Portugal is very 
large. This is mainly occupied in providing mine-props for England. Not much 
resin is produced in either State or private forest in Portugal. 
Cork Oak (Quercus Suber).—After the Cluster Pine the next most valuable 
forest tree in Portugal is the Cork Oak. The Cluster Pine and the Cork Oak 
together enable Portugal to export about 1,250,000/. worth of forest produce 
yearly. 
Busaco Cedar (Cupressus lusitanica) has been naturalised in Portugal about 
the same time as the two pines in South Africa. My friend Dr. Henry has 
shown that it came originally from Mexico; it now produces the most valuable 
timber in the natural forests of Portugal. It should occupy a prominent place 
in any scheme of extra-tropical forestry. It is a most beautiful and valuable 
tree. 
Stone Pine (Pinus Pinea)—This useful pine with its valuable nuts has suffered 
badly in South Africa from a fungoid disease; but in Spain and Portugal it is 
nearly free from it. 
Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis).—This has certain advantages over Cluster 
Pine. It stands more drought, it will put up with lime in the soil, it transplants 
more easily; it is somewhat more shade-bearing. It is the species used for 
reforesting the devastated mountains of Southern Spain. 
Oaks.—Five Oaks occur in Southern Portugal. The common British Oak 
(Quercus pedunculata) occurs as copse and scattered trees on good soil. Portugal 
pays heavily for cooperage wood, and wants a great deal more Oak. 
Quercus lusitanica may almost be regarded as the extra-tropical form of the 
British Oak. It should occupy an important part in the future forestry of 
Australia. It has been nearly exterminated in Portugal precisely on account of 
its valuable qualities. 
Quercus Tozza somewhat resembles the Durmast Oak of England; it is not 
often seen as a large tree, but makes valuable firewood copse. 
Quercus Ilex.—The forest tree-planter in Australia and South Africa will 
generally prefer its first cousin, the Cork Oak; but the Ilex is somewhat hardier 
than the Cork Oak. It is the last tree left on the mountains in Southern Spain 
and Portugal, when fires and the axes and goats of the peasants have produced 
universal desolation. Its chief value lies in acorns for pig-feeding, and there is 
a variety termed Ballota which produces acorns nearly as sweet as a chestnut. 
Chestnut (Castania vesca) seems steadily dying out in Spain and Portugal, as 
in other Mediterranean countries. The threatened loss of this valuable tree is 
one of the saddest features in modern European forestry. It may take a new lease 
of life in the southern hemisphere, care being of course taken (as with Eucalyptus 
in South Africa) to import the tree without its pests. 
The Portuguese forest service is well organised, and the department generally 
far in advance of Britain and the self-governing British Colonies, except South 
Africa. It used to be customary in the forest text-books to place Spain, Portugal, 
