SCOTCH FIR (PINE). 347 



Outline. All the Pines and Firs when vouna: are to be dis- 

 tinguished from deciduous trees by their conical outline and the 

 regular disposition ot the branches on the trunk. In some species 

 this formal arrangement of the branch-system is lost after a time, and 

 a new plan takes its place. In other cases the characteristics of the 

 young tree are more or less retained in maturity. 



With age the Firs and Larches shed all their lower boushs 

 until the apex of the spire alone remains. The Pines also lose their 

 lower boughs, but from the upper trunk lateral branches grow out. 

 They are arranged on a new plan, and form a tuft on the crest of 

 the main stem, which has long since reached its full height. 



Trunks. The trunks in both species contrast with those of 

 deciduous trees. They are lofty, small in girth for their height, 

 cylindrical, tapering and upright. The branches they bear are relatively 

 short, and follow certain systems of ramification, which are elsewhere 

 described in detail. 



Leaves. The leaves of nearly all the conifers are remarkable for 

 their lack of lateral expansion, and, in spite of this, for their great 

 variety of form. The leaves of the Spruce (Fir tribe) are needle- 

 shaped and angular, those of the Silver Fir and the Yew are flat, 

 while those of the Scots and Austrian Pines have one side convex 

 and the other fiat. The species vary between a blunt leaf and one 

 sharply pointed : Yew leaves, amongst others, are curved. Larch leaves 

 are straight, and there is a difference of four inches in length between 

 the miniature spines of the Cedar (one inch) and the long needles 

 of the Stone Pines (five to six inches). There is no less variety 

 in colouring, though a dark green finds most favour : the foliage on 

 some trees is glaucous in its earlv stages only, on others it never 



