76 THE LIFE AND WorK OF GEORGE DON. 
leaves are distinguishable at a distance by their much lighter and 
beautiful glaucous colour. The bark of the trunk is not so 
rugged as in var. 1. Its cones are generally thicker, not so much 
pointed, and they are smoother than those of var. 1. The tree 
seems to be a more hardy plant, being easily reconciled to very 
various soils and situations. It grows very freely, and quickly 
arrives at a considerable size. 
“This is the sort which I conceive might constitute a distinct 
species ; and from the disposition of its branches, I would be 
inclined to call it Pinus hortzontahs. 
“May I here be allowed to conjecture, that the fir woods which 
formerly abounded in every part of Scotland, and the trees of which 
arrived at a large size, had been of this variety or species? 1 have 
certainly observed, that the greater part of the fir woods of the 
present day, and which are so much complained of, are of the 
common variety, or var. 1.; at least not more than one tree out of 
ten or twelve, is of var. 2., or the more desirable kind. I think this 
the most natural way of accounting for the supposed decline of the 
Scots Fir in this country ; for two reasons; 1. Because var. 2. 
still retains all the good qualities ever ascribed to the Scots Fir ; 
and 2., Because, as var. 1. produces its cones much more freely than 
the other, the seed-gatherers, who were only to be paid by the 
quantity and not by the quality, would seize upon the former, and 
neglect the latter. 
“The evident remedy for this defect in our plantations of Scots 
Fir, is peste the cultivating exclusively this second and well 
marke 
*: Ge gene it to be only a variety, it seems indisputable, 
that any fixed variety in a timber tree, rendering it more valuable, 
is as well worthy of being attended to, as are fixed varieties in 
cultivated grains, or culinary vegetables; and the great improve- 
ments that have resulted to agriculture and horticulture from 
attending to such varieties, are too well known to need to be 
insisted on. 
Var. 3. 
“This is likewise a remarkable variety, and seems quite distinct 
both from var. 1. and 2. Its leaves are of a still lighter colour than 
those of the last; insomuch, that they appear of a truly light 
glaucous hue, approaching to a silvery tint. Its branches form, 
like var. 1., a pyramidal head ; but it differs remarkably in its cones, 
from both the former varieties ; the cones in this variety having the 
