349 
THE CHEMISTRY OF THE LAKELAND TREES. 
ale; 
Patterdale, Wistmitland 
In view of the eminent interest et importance of the subject, 
and of the considerable attention now bestowed in this country 
on the science and art of Forestry, I have deemed it advisable to 
supplement the account given in ‘The Naturalist’ for June 1808, 
pp. 181-87, of the chemistry of the Lakeland trees by a further. 
notice of a few other trees frequently to be met with in that 
enchanting region. Comm Poor: as before with the Gymno- 
sperms, I i now consider 
Scotch Fir. Pinus ieion. This is a true and sturdy 
native of the district. ‘Formerly the whole country,’ says 
Wordsworth, ‘must have been covered with wood to a great 
height up the mountains ; where native Scotch Firs must have 
grown in great profusion.’ Unfortunately the profusion is not 
quits So great to-day; but still there do exist some spots where 
“a sombre cloud of pine-tree foliage’ is tolerably forcibly 
suggested. In fact, this Pine is relieved very Soe icvousy 
indeed in several places by its dark and lofty aspect, its ‘massy 
dome of sombre foliage’ in contrast with and against the back- 
ground of the lighter and more siviney eee Spruce, Larch, 
Hei etc., which zone the mountain sides. The great economic 
value of the tree as a source of resin, scereutiaal abd timber has 
Stimulated chemical research on the part of several German 
investigators. The more interesting facts brought to light are 
that in winter there is no starch at all in the wood, pith, bark, 
or leaves ; in March there is much starch, especially in the older 
wood and in the leaves; and during the summer the wood is par- 
ticularly poor in fatty matter. The largest amount of resin occurs 
in the wood of the root, and the sales: in the bark. The latter 
contains about 7 per cent. of a highly oxygenated tannin it 
its phlobaphene ; also wax, quinovic acid, sugar, and a yellov 
bitter matter called pinipicrin. According to Kawalier, a 
wood contains resin, turpentine, and mucilage, but has no 
tannin, bitter principle, starch, wax, or citric acid.’ A little free 
phloroglucin is found in the pith and medullary rays. I have 
not succeeded in isolating coniferin from this tree, although 
according to macro-chemical reactions it certainly exists there. 
The lenis contain little or no carotin, but have large quantities 
of a yellow fat, wax, and resin:(the whole, with the | chlorophyll, 
contributing to impart the. very sombre shade), also rutin, 
mucilage, sugar, quinovic acid, with small quantities of tannin 
and :citric acid; the volatile oil Abe EO oil) is not the same as 
November 
