THE PINE TREE, 181 
duced into this country by Messrs. P. Lawson ‘and Son of 
Edinburgh, in 1835. It is propagated to a considerable extent 
throughout Britain from imported seed. It is perfectly hardy 
and of robust growth, particularly in soft soil of any quality. 
It carries a breadth along with its upward growth, which 
adapts it for exposed ground. In its native country it some- 
times attains the height of 100 feet. Its mode of treatment 
is similar to that of the Scotch pine, but as its roots are apt 
to grow more bare and straggling than the roots of that tree, 
the best rooted plants are those that are transplanted when 
one-year-old seedlings, into nursery lines, where they may re- 
main one or two years, as may be necessary to prepare them for 
the ground they are intended to occupy. The tree commonly 
yields a close compact foliage of the darkest green, and its 
timber is strong and resinous. 
P. Pinaster (Aiton): The Cluster Pine.—-This tree is in- 
digenous throughout the south of Europe, in the countries 
along the shores of the Mediterranean, and in other parts of 
the world. Like all pines of an extensive geographical range, 
the species is possessed of numerous varieties, sometimes dis- 
tinguished by the length and colour of their foliage, the size 
of their cones, etc. The tree was introduced into England by 
Gerrard at the close of the sixteenth century. It is readily 
grown from seed, which should be sown in the end of April 
in beds four feet wide, allowing one pound weight of seed to 
every six or seven lineal yards of a bed; the cover should be 
half an inch deep, and the beds, like those of all other pine 
crops, should be protected from the ravages of birds. The 
seedling plants should be transplanted at the age of one year 
into lines about eight inches apart, and the plants about two 
inches asunder. When they have been one year in lines they 
are fit for removal into sand, or bare exposed ground. If 
they are not planted out finally after being one year in lines, 
they should again be transplanted into wider space in the 
nursery, in order to keep their roots sufficiently fibrous ; for 
two years undisturbed, at any age, in almost any description 
of soil, is generally fatal to the safe removal of the pinaster. 
