166 Remarks on the Coniferce. 



top-heavy, and require support. It is, besides, much infested 

 with a small beetle of the genus ? Hylurgus, which perforates 

 longitudinally the more luxuriant shoots of one yeai''s growth. 

 The largest specimen of it in this quarter has thus been de- 

 stroyed, although placed on a lawn at a distance from any other 

 tree. Unless these casualties, to which this plant is particularly 

 subject, can be overcome by sowing the seed where the tree is 

 destined to remain, or by planting it at a very early age into 

 poor soil, where it may become more fixed and spreading, and 

 produce young shoots less luxuriant, and consequently of a 

 harder texture, its vigorous habits will be of little avail. 



y^^bies DouglaszV is likewise of very rapid growth here, some 

 of the largest trees having produced top shoots in one summer 

 3 ft. in length ; and, like iPicea pectinata, the plant becomes well- 

 rooted and furnished with lateral branches before it produces 

 strong leading shoots, so that it is not subject to be blown over. 

 I fear, however, this species is not sufficiently hardy for our 

 climate. Some fine plants of it, situated in the higher districts 

 of Morayshire, grew luxuriantly for several years previous to the 

 autumn of 1838, when they produced a profusion of second 

 shoots (such as are common on the oak and beech, and known 

 here by the title of Lammas growths), which, being overtaken by 

 the frosts, were so cut up that the plants perished. From this 

 tree being in the habit of growing at such a late period of the 

 year, it is supposed to be adapted only to the most favourable 

 situations in this country. 



Concerning the suitableness of other species of the Coniferge 

 more recently introduced into this quarter, all is conjecture. 



In the extensive plantations of Sir W. G. G. Gumming, Bart,, 

 which are now in progress of being formed on the moorland of 

 some of the most elevated hills of the Altyre estate, a con- 

 siderable number of Himalayan pines are to be introduced. At 

 Dalvey, the C. Deoddra^ P. excelsa, P. Webbmwa, and many of 

 the most promising kinds, are extensively grown. The pro- 

 prietor of this estate, Norman Macleod, Esq., has done much 

 for the improvement of gardening in the north, and his example 

 in this instance cannot fail to have a powerful effect in advancing 

 the important interests of arboriculture. 



Though I cannot speak decidedly of the merits of those new 

 pines as timber trees in the climate of Britain, it does not follow 

 that their cultivation is rendered the less interesting or necessary. 

 It is probable that about the beginning of next century, when the 

 various kinds shall have been fully tried and known, some of the 

 Himalayan and American sorts will rank as high, and be as 

 eagerly cultivated for valuable timber, as our best European 

 kinds now are, not excepting even the Highland pine. 



Forres. Jan. 1841. 



