164 



A MANUAL OP THE CONIFERS. 



base, pointed at the apes, and with greater developement on the 

 outer or exposed side ; the scales are spineless, smooth, and of a 

 glossy orange-brown colour. 



Habitat. — California, in the neighbourhood of the coast, from 

 Monterey to San Antonio, and a few other places. 

 Introduced in 1833 by David Douglas. 



This Pine varies much 

 in habit, according to 

 the soil and situation 

 in which it is growing. 

 In the close forests in 

 the neighbourhood of 

 Monterey, it is drawn 

 up to a height of 60 

 feet without a branch; 

 on the outskirts of the 

 woods, and when stand- 

 ing far apart, it grows 

 a handsome tree, with 

 wide spreading branches 

 from the ground to the 

 summit. At its northern 

 limit, when growing close 

 to the sea-shore, and 

 exposed to the prevailing 

 north - west winds it 

 scarcely exceeds the 

 height of a tall-growing 

 shrub. 



Pinus insignis is one 

 of the most ornamental 

 of all the Pines, but it 

 cannot be said to be 

 sufficiently hardy in 

 England, except in the 

 south and south-west, to 

 be relied on as a per- 

 manent decorative tree. 

 In the severe winter of 

 1860-1 more than two- 

 thirds of the trees of 

 this species then existing in Great Britain were killed ; and in ordinary 

 winters it does not always escape injury ; the foliage is often browned 

 and rendered unsightly by frost and piercing winds, and unripened 



Fig. 39.— Cone and leaves of Pinus insignis. Natural size. 

 (.From the Gardeners' Chronicle.) 



