PINUS PINEA AT DUNGLASS 175 



that they are alive at all, and still more that they bear 

 cones abundantly. The few cones to be seen on the higher 

 branches do not represent the whole crop, as I am informed 

 that the boys of the locality make an annual raid and carry 

 off all that they can get hold of — and perhaps not boys only. 

 These cones ought to be respected, as probably they are the 

 only specimens to be found North of the Thames : certainly 

 they are unique in Scotland. 



Now, how are we to account for these tender trees having 

 survived the rigours of many severe East Lothian winters, 

 and the severe gales, such as the Tay Bridge and the Eye- 

 mouth Disaster, gales which wrought such terrible havoc ? 

 No doubt the situation, sheltered to the North and East by 

 the Embankment, has saved and nurtured them. The 

 experiment seems to suggest that more trees of the sort 

 might be successfully reared in similar situations. At any 

 rate such might probably grow very well in the mild climate 

 of the West of Scotland, but I never saw any there. 

 Perhaps it is too damp. I inserted an appeal to proprietors, 

 gardeners and foresters in The Scotsman of the 16th October 

 1904, asking them to communicate with me if they were 

 aware of any Stone Pines in their policies or neighbourhood, 

 but I got no answers. 



The finest example of a Stone Pine in Britain grows at 

 Mount Edgcumbe, Plymouth, the beautiful and well-known 

 .seat of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. At the present time 

 its height is 54 feet, girth at 3 feet from the ground 9 feet 

 6 inches, and spread 48 feet. No cones have been noticed. 

 There are two othter fine umbrella-shaped trees near the East 

 front of the House, the largest being about 30 feet high. At 

 2 feet from the ground each stem bifurcates, the girth of 

 each branch being 6 feet, and the spread of foliage 45 feet. 

 These trees bear cones which come to maturity. The first 

 mentioned of the above named specimens is remarkable, as 

 I have explained that Pinus pinea rai'ely exceeds 30 feet in 

 our country. The foregoing particulars have been kindly sent 

 to me from Mount Edgcumbe. 



I must notice a few characteristics of Pinus pinea. First, 

 like the Scotch Pine, it belongs to the section having 



