PREFACE. Vll 



and the innumerable synomyms or aliases in ■which the Firs and Pines 

 are at present confounded, no other term is so appropriate or truthful 

 as chaos, which to attempt to reduce to perfect order were a somewhat 

 Herculean task, and a very bold enterprize ; and the author who 

 should 'perfectly perform it would deserve well of his country, and be 

 legitimately entitled to a niche in the temple of Fame. 



Excelsior, however, not Perfectio, is my present motto ; and you, 

 my readers, are and shall be my judges ; and in opening the case for 

 my present client, I must needs declare to you, for I have as yet only 

 indicated " the reason why " this volume is now placed before you at 

 the bar of public opinion, which is simply this : — The Scottish Arbori- 

 cultural Society has for some years past offered a prize for the best 

 Essay upon " The Introduction and Cultivation of the newer Coniferse, 

 with special reference to the climate of Great Britain and Ireland;" 

 and having often been requested by many of my arboricultural 

 patrons, friends, and professional brethren, to enter the lists as a 

 competitor, I was at last induced to do so ; and, during the autumn of 

 1864, sent in the subject matter of the following pages, under the 

 motto, " Wave your tops, ye Pines ;" to which the Judges on Essays 

 awarded the first prize. The Essay was, however, accompanied by a 

 code of conditions on my part, subject to which I entered as a com- 

 petitor ; the chief of which was my retaining the Co]jy right. To this 

 the Publishing Committee objected, and I was by them requested to 

 withdraw the stipulation. This, however, I declined to do, and the 

 consequence was, I won the honour, and forfeited the gold ; and by so 

 doing I neither propitiated nor satisfied my patrons, friends, or pro- 

 fessional brethren; for renewed requests became common as black- 

 berries for the publication of my new-fangled ideas upon the Firs 

 and Pines. Again, for a time, I resisted the temptation to rush into 

 print; but as pressure increased, I became more disposed to do so, 

 although I had an intention, which in due course wiU be carried 

 out, that much of this book should, D.Y., re-appear in my more care- 

 fully compiled and elaborate works, " The Ligneous Trees and Shrubs 

 of the World," and "The British Arboriculturist;" upon which 

 works, in my leisure hours, I am now engaged. It "has, however, 

 occurred to many, and is suggested to me, that this volume, published 

 in its present form, and fully treating of this particular and important 



