GREATER TREES OF THE NORTHERN FOREST, 



The Greater Trees of the Northern Forest. 



The multitude of learned-looking names of trees 

 and the regrettable existence of many worthless 

 kinds lead us to think that an account of the really- 

 great trees of the northern forest would be useful in 

 nxinc the mind on essentials as to kinds in serious 



o 



planting. In catalogues and books one Latin name 

 seems as good as another, and consequently a great 

 deal too many worthless kinds and their varieties 

 are planted. Not only have we false generic names, 

 like Retinospora, but not a few true ones that are 

 of little value from a forest point of view. Among 

 trees of the Pine tribe, which are the best of all 

 trees for the evergreen forest, there is a curious 

 tendency to vary, which is sometimes laid hold of 

 to create new names. A mere sport or distortion 

 noticed on a tree, if capable of propagation by 

 grafting or cutting, is given a Latin name and sold 

 on the same printed level with true trees. If we 

 go into a grove of wild Yew trees, like that at 

 Kingley Vale, we see a striking diversity of form, 

 and it would be easy in such a case to pick out 

 " varieties " and name them. 



The essential thing to be borne in mind is that 

 the wild type of a forest tree is the best, and that 

 sports are worthless. Trees raised from seed vary 

 a little naturally, as in the case of the wild Yew ; 

 different forms of habit and closeness may be seen 

 in the same wood, and this is an interesting fact 

 to be enjoyed without going any further where re- 

 naming can only do harm to planting. So we begin 

 with a tree of the highest value from every point of 

 view for our islands, and we hope to continue with 

 the greater trees of the northern forest lands of 

 Europe, northern Asia, and America. 



No. i. — The Corsican Pine. 

 Of all the Pines that have been brought to our 

 country this, from a forest point of view, is the 

 most precious, the most rapid in its growth, hardy, 

 and finest in effect. In beauty nothing excels our 

 native Fir, which is also a rapid grower, but under 

 equal conditions the Corsican Pine is even more 

 rapid in growth, while isolated it has a nobler aspect, 

 owing to its mast-like stem. By itself, on a heath 

 in Surrey, I have seen it as strong and clean in the 

 stem as any grown in the massed wood, while our 

 native Fir is apt to branch out and suffer much 

 when isolated. For freedom of growth the Corsican 

 Pine is extraordinary, if planted young. It has the 

 repute of not being eaten by rabbits, but when hard 

 pressed for food I find they will attack it, and where 

 the rabbits abound it is only less liable to be attacked 

 in severe weather than other Pines. Very young 

 plants, if protected for the first two or three years, 

 will put up with a good deal from grass or briers, 



and the growth is surprisingly rapid and beautiful. 

 The climate of our country suits it admirably, and 

 it is not particular about soils, thriving in poor 

 Sussex clays, on peaty heaths and sandy hills, in 

 conditions that are not forced, as they usually are 

 in pleasure ground planting, by digging holes and 

 putting several loads of earth round a tree. In that 

 way we can get no proof of the value of a soil in 

 relation to the growth of any Pine. The growth 

 of the Corsican is spread over a good many acres 

 in the natural and often poor soil of the country ; 

 sometimes planted without even ploughing, and 

 without manure or other addition to the natural 

 soil. It is a common thing to trench ground, and a 

 very expensive labour it is ; but in planting many 

 thousands of these trees not an inch of the ground 

 has been trenched. This makes a serious difference 

 in the cost to the planter ; and after the first few 

 years of growth I doubt if any good to the final 

 growth of timber is done by trenching. These 

 observations arise from a successful planting of the 

 tree in Sussex. 



Plantations in IVales and Ireland. — Mr. A. D. 

 Webster gives in the " Transactions of the Scot- 

 tish Arboricultural Society " a good account of the 

 growth of the Corsican Pine in Wales. 



" On this estate (Penrhyn) this Pine has been 

 planted extensively. Many fine trees are to be seen 

 ranging in height from 50 to 70 feet. As a fast- 

 growing ornamental tree, or for planting in exposed 

 situations it is invaluable, and at present bids fair 

 to outrival all others. A plantation of over thirty 

 acres, situated at 500 to 700 feet above sea level, 

 was some years ago formed of it, planted 16 feet 

 apart, the intervening spaces being planted with 

 Larch and Scotch Firs. For planting in exposed situ- 

 ations or within the influence of the sea, this Pine 

 is excelled by none. Along the outskirts of planta- 

 tions fully exposed to the south-west, from which 

 point our worst winds blow, the Corsican Pine is far 

 superior to the Scotch Fir, and about equal to the 

 Austrian Fir, as a screen. Where the Scotch Fir be- 

 comes weatherbeaten and, as it were, shrinking or 

 bending from the blast, the Corsican stands boldly 

 out, as if to defy the storm, its head above any of 

 the surrounding trees. This is noticeable in clumps 

 and strips of trees that were planted half a century 

 ago in the park here for shelter and effect. Near 

 the sea coast this Pine grows with a vigour excelled 

 by few, and seems quite at home, even within the 

 direct influence of the salt spray ; and for this 

 reason, as well as its ornamental appearance, it has 

 been largely used to form sea-side plantations. On 

 the mountain side between Llandegai and Aber, at 



