EXPANDED PYRAMIDAL RIGA PINE. 117 



The second division is described under the head of the expanded 

 pyramidal Riga pine, of which he writes : 



" The principal characteristic by which this section differs from 

 the preceding consists in this, that the branches, longer, stronger, 

 and more separated from the trunk, form a more expanded pyramid. 

 The trunks in the greater part of the lots of this series are larger at 

 the same age than those of the elongated pyramids, and they are at 

 least as high; but the proportion of trees perfectly straight and 

 regular is less than in these. The colour of the bark is also less 

 uniformly reddish. In fine, in the tout ensemble of their characters 

 the natural grown trees are less elegant, \ess perfect in general in 

 their proportions than those of the elongated pyramids, but more 

 vigorous, and appeared destined to acquire greater dimensions ; it 

 is amongst them more especially that we should find trunks of the 

 exceptional dimensions, which serve for masts to vessels of the first 

 rank. They present then, in this respect, as much interest as do those 

 of the first section." 



The pine of Smolensk was raised from some of the cones ob- 

 tained from M. Wagner. " This," says M. Vilmorin, " was dis- 

 tinguished from the others thus obtained in having the direction 

 taken by its branches very much diversified. Of the nine individuals 

 of which the lot consists, three have these horizontal, and very 

 prolonged ; of the six others, two are excellent types of the elongated 

 pyramidal series, and four belong to the series of regular expanded 

 pyramidal form. Notwithstanding these differences, all, with perhaps 

 one or two exceptions, present thus far the essential characteristics 

 of the best Pins du Nord, the trunk is clean and elongated, the 

 crowns regular, the bark, in fine, is thin, delicate, and of a decided 

 reddish colour. 



" The mixture of trees with horizontal branches," he adds, " gives 

 to the lot, limited in number though it be, a particular interest for 

 subsequent study.'' 



Of the Wilna pine, raised also I suppose "from the seeds supplied 

 by M. Wagner, there were only seven specimens. " Their crowns '' 

 writes M. Vilmorin, " are in general regular, but they are manifestly 

 stronger, larger, and more clothed with leaves and branches than is 

 the case with any which have been yet described. The base of the 

 trunk is more clumsy and covered with a bark more brown and more 

 cracked ; altogether, it is a very vigorous pine, but one which, if an 

 opinion may be based on the observation of a number so small, will 

 furnish a smaller proportion of perfectly regular trunks than will 

 these already mentioned. 



