Pinetum Woburnense. 263 



Art. III. Pinetum Woburnense ; or, a Catalogue of Coniferous Plants 

 in the Collection of the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey : sys- 

 tematically arranged. Royal 8vo. Not published, and only 100 

 copies printed. 1839. 



In order that our readers may learn the causes which have led this amiable 

 and enlightened nobleman again to appear as an author, we make the follow- 

 ing quotation from the Introduction : — 



" It is now eight years since I printed my ' Salictum Woburnense ; or 

 a Catalogue of Willows at Woburn Abbey ; ' and at that time 1 little 

 thought that I should again have recourse to the press, even in the hum- 

 ble and unambitious work of enumerating the specimens of another genus 

 of plants in my collection ; but I have been induced to resume my occu- 

 pation, partly for my own amusement, and partly in the hope of gratifying 

 those amongst my friends who take an interest in such matters. 



" After printing my list of willows, my health was seriously affected ; but it 

 has pleased God so far to restore it, as to enable me to engage again in one 

 of my most favourite pursuits — the study of nature, in the productions of the 

 forest, the garden, and the conservatory ; and I have derived much pleasure 

 in arranging a catalogue of all the plants which I possess, connected with the 

 genus Pinns, and attending its progress through the press. 



" That interesting tribe has lately engaged much of the attention of the 

 most zealous and enterprising of our horticulturists. The splendid work of 

 Mr. Lambert (on the genus P inns'), in two volumes folio, is well known, and 

 highly appreciated ; and he has lately added a third volume, full of valuable 

 and interesting information. 



" That eminent statesman, and truly estimable man, the late Lord Gren- 

 ville, found solace and pleasure in his retirement from the cares and anxieties 

 of public life, in investigating the habitats and culture of various genera of 

 trees ; and the Pinetum formed by him at Dropmore is now allowed to be 

 the most complete of any in Great Britain. 



" A short time previous to his decease, on sending me some rare specimens 

 of pines, which I had not then in my own collection, he wrote me a most 

 friendly and encouraging letter, expressing the pleasure which he felt at learn- 

 ing that I had turned my attention to the cultivation of this truly interesting 

 genus ; from which he himself had derived so much satisfaction. I had 

 previously received from that excellent person a very gratifying letter, ac- 

 knowledging the receipt of a copy of my Salictum Woburnense. 



" There is, perhaps, no tribe of plants, not excepting even the oak, which 

 claims more admiration than the genus Pinus ; nor any that brings with it so 

 many pleasing recollections or associations of thought. 



" In the Holy Scriptures, which abound in sublime and beautiful allusions to 

 the woods and the forest scenery of Syria and Palestine, the various species 

 of the pine tribe stand eminently conspicuous. Speaking of Israel, the chosen 

 people, David saj's, His boughs shall be like the goodly cedar trees ; he shall 

 flourish like a palm tree ; and spread abroad like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalms, 

 lxxx. &xcii. And when in the 72d Psalm, he speaks of their works of righte- 

 ousness, he says, Their fruit shall shake like Leba?io?i ; he alludes, probably, 

 to the cones which hang in clusters from the lofty cedars of that mountain. 

 And the prophet Ezekiel, in speaking of the vastness of the power, and the 

 extent of the dominion and majesty of the great king of Assyria, says, The 

 Assyrian was as a cedar in Lebanon; I made him fair by the multitude of his 

 branches ; so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. 

 In the 41st chapter of Isaiah, Jehovah says : I will plant in the desert the cedar, 

 the fir tree, and the pine, the glory of Lebanon. 



" We have, also, many classical authorities for venerating the fir tribe. 

 Statius says, 



" ' Syl varum gloria, pinus.' Sylv. 151. 



[The pine, the glory of the woods.] 

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