158 THE PINE TREE. 
there be more than one sort of the Scotch pine or fir,” but 
the difference of the wood cannot be owing to the age of the 
tree and the quality of the soil, for he adds that he has seen 
many pine trees cut down, “of equal age, in the same spot, 
where some, were white and spongy, and others red and 
hard.” 
A very minute detail of the true kind was published in 
1811, by Mr. George Don, of Forfar, who describes several 
varieties In a planted wood near that town. In describing 
the cones of variety No. 1, a degenerated sort, he says, “ The 
cones are considerably elongated, and tapering to the point, 
and the bark of the trunk is very rugged. This variety 
seems to be but short-lived, becoming soon stunted in its 
appearance, and it is altogether a very inferior tree. It pro- 
duces its cones much more freely than variety 2d; the seed- 
gatherers who were to be paid only by the quantity, and 
not by the quality, would seize upon the former and neglect 
the latter.” Of No. 2 he says, “Its cones are generally 
thicker, not so much pointed, and they are smoother than 
that of variety No.1. The tree seems to be a more hardy 
plant, being easily reconciled to various soils and situations. 
It grows very freely, and quickly arrives at a very consider- 
able size. This is the sort which, I conceive, might constitute 
a distinct species, and from the disposition of its branches I 
would be inclined to call it Pinus horizontalis, May I here be 
allowed to conjecture that the fir woods which formerly 
abounded in every part of Scotland, and the trees of which 
arrived at a great size, had been of this variety or species ? 
I have certainly observed that the greater part of the fir 
woods of the present day, and which are so much complained 
of, are of the common variety, or variety Ist.” Mr. Don adds 
that No. 2 retains all the good qualities ever ascribed to the 
Scotch fir, and accounts for the “decline” of the tree in 
this country from the circumstance that No. 1 produces its 
cones much more freely than the other, and seed-gatherers, 
who are paid by the quantity and not by the quality, seize 
upon the cones of No. 1, to the neglect of the better sort. 
