PIN US TUBEECULATA. 171 



Habitat — California, the coast range from Monterey northwards. 

 Introduced into England in 1847 by the Horticultual Society of 

 London, through their collector, Hartweg. 



From a paper read before the San Francisco Microscopical Society, 

 by Mr. J. P. Moore, we derive the following interesting particulars 

 respecting Pinus tubcrculatu. 



" It cannot be said to be a common tree in the ordinary accept- 

 ance of that term. It is mainly confined to the Sierras, and at an 

 elevation of about 3,000 feet. It seems to prefer the southern slopes 

 of the mountains where the soil is very dry, and where it can be 

 fully exposed to the sun. It has the peculiarity of bearing its cones 

 on the main trunk of the tree, giving it a singular appearance as they 

 are arranged around the stem in almost a circle; usually five though 

 often seven cones compose the circle. Sometimes two or three of these 

 circles of cones will be closely crowded together, overlapping each other 

 as they hang down. A peculiar feature of these cones, and one worthy 

 of attention, is their maimer of attachment to the trunk. It may be 

 observed that the base of the cones rest against the bark, and that 

 they are so firmly fixed as to bear the pressure of several hundred 

 pounds without breaking off. These cones appear upon the trunk while 

 the tree is quite young, and yet the successive layers of growth rarely 

 ever surround and bury' them. The petiole of the cone seems to 

 lengthen, but not quite fast enough to keep pace with the growth of 

 the trunk, so that in many instances it would seem as if the pressure 

 of the subjacent tissue against the base of the cone had forced it out, 

 leaving a hole where the petiole entered the older wood. Nature has 

 also made good provision for the preservation of the seed ; the" cones 

 are very compact, and covered with a resinous coating which insures 

 them against cracking ; they are never shed until the tree dies or has 

 been felled, and even then they do not open for a long time.* In the 

 forests where this Pine abounds, the trees are all of the same age, 

 which may be readily accounted for by the cone shedding. As a 

 timber tree Pinus tuberculata has no special value." 



This Pine is very distinct and also tolerably hardy, but it should 

 always be planted in a south aspect with full exposure to the sun, 

 and at the same time sheltered from cold winds blowing from the 

 north, north-east, and east. 



The following Pines belonging to this section are not sufficiently 

 hardy for the climate of Britain. They are, however, occasionally met 

 with in collections occupying sheltered situations. 



* In the Museum of the Royal Exotic Nursery, at Chelsea, are preserved cones of Pinus 

 tuberculata that were sent by W. Lobb from California twenty-five years ago. They are at the 

 present time (1881) apparently as firm and compact as when first received; 



