264 Pinetum Woburnense. 



And Horace, in similar strain, says, 



" ■ ' Pontica pinus, 



Sylvae filia nobilis.' Hor. I. Carm. xiv. 11. 



["A noble daughter of the Pontic wood." Francis's trans.] 

 But the boldest epithet is that applied by Statius, in the 6th book of his 

 Thebaid :— 



' Hinc audax abies, et odoro vulnere, pinus.' Stat. Theb., iv. 

 [" The pine that breathes forth fragrance from each wound." Lewis's trans.] 



" This expression forcibly brings to our mind the Glenmore and Atholl 

 and other fir frigates, built of the magnificent Scotch firs (Pi?ms sylvestris), of 

 the Forest of Glenmore, and of the gigantic larches (Larix eurojxza), imported 

 into Scotland by the Duke of Atholl, and now abounding in the Highlands." 



" I have again had recourse to the extensive and accurate botanical know- 

 ledge of the able superintendant of all my garden concerns (Mr. James Forbes), 

 to assist me in forming a catalogue of such specimens of this most interesting 

 family of plants as I possess at Woburn Abbey. He has taken much pains in 

 investigating the characteristic distinctions of each species ; and the botanist 

 will, at once, recognise the careful and accurate manner in which he has 

 pursued the enquiry." 



The frontispiece, which represents the great silver fir in Woburn Park 

 (the dimensions of this fine tree are given in a note, a copy of which was sent 

 us by His Grace in 1837, and the substance of it will be found in the Arbo- 

 retum Britannicum, vol. iv. p. 2332.), the duke informs us, is from " the 

 correct and delicate pencil of my daughter-in-law, Lady Charles Russell, whose 

 admirable drawings of trees of several species require no praise from me. This 

 tree, with others of the same description, was planted on a hill in Woburn 

 Park, called Stump Cross (the whole covering an area of just one acre of 

 ground), during the minority of Wriothesley, third Duke of Bedford. The 

 age of this tree must, therefore, be nearly 130 years. The other firs 

 planted at the same time (with the exception of three or four Scotch and 

 silver firs) were taken down in the year 1810, and were then valued at 900/. : 

 but I must add that fir timber was at that time at an unusually high price in Eng-, 

 land, owing to the effects of what Napoleon called his ' continental system.' 



" I may, perhaps, be allowed to claim a sort of hereditary affection for the 

 pine tribe; as my grandfather, John, Duke of Bedford, who was a great 

 planter, was particularly partial to pines, and other firs. 



" The culture of the family of the Conifercs may be said to be almost in its 

 infancy in this country. The numerous species of pines introduced into 

 Europe from distant climes, from the Himalayan range of mountains and 

 other parts of India, have given a new zest to those who take pleasure in 

 bringing forward and cultivating hitherto unknown productions of the vegetable 

 world. And, without going into an enquiry respecting the commercial ad- 

 vantages to be derived from the knowledge which we are yearly (I may almost 

 say daily) acquiring, of the growth, and values, and properties of trees, I will 

 content myself with observing that the genus Pinus is probably entitled to 

 wonder and admiration beyond all others ; and that, at no distant period, we may 

 see the Cedrus Deodara, the Abies Douglasii, and others of similar grandeur, 

 naturalised and flourishing among the cedars of Lebanon in our British forests. 



" Should the perusal of this catalogue stimulate any of the landowners of 

 Great Britain to increase their zeal and their efforts in cultivating this truly 

 valuable family of trees, my object will be fully attained. B." 



Next follows a preface, by Mr. Forbes, His Grace's gardener, so honourably 

 mentioned by the duke in the preceding quotation. Mr. Forbes, after noticing 

 the various additions that have been made to the genus Pinus by the dis- 

 coveries of Douglas, and the stimulus thereby given to the formation of 

 pinetums throughout the kingdom, expresses his surprise that the pine and 

 fir tribe are not more generally cultivated, so few trees equalling them both in 

 point of utility and ornament. " The species best calculated for cultivation in 



