102 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



manufacture of charcoal the wood of the Swiss Pine is, however, now-a-days 

 seldom used, except where growing among Larch and Fir it falls a victim to 

 the axe. For building, the Swiss Pine, owing to its scarcity and to the cost of 

 transport from the mountains, is little in demand, although for the construction 

 of alpine huts it proves of an iron-like durability. Trees also that have fallen 

 through age or been shattered by storm or lightning have been known to lie for 

 many years on the ground before decay set in. 



The fruit of the Swiss Pine is, as we have said, edible, and large quantities 

 are collected for this purpose as well as for sale to seedsmen. A very good, 

 well-flavoured oil is obtained from the seeds, and the resin ob- 



Edible seed. 



tained from the young shoots is known in commerce as Car- 

 pathian balsam. 



Of any forest tree the Swiss Pine should have the least number of natural 

 foes. That arch enemy of mountain trees, the goat, molests it very little ; nor 

 does it suffer from insects, owing to the severity of the climate 



P ft G tilt /OS* J 



of the high mountains for insect life. Here and there young 

 Swiss Pines have suffered from being rubbed or barked by deer and chamois, 

 and the seed is greatly liked by birds, especially the jay ; the squirrel also com- 

 mits great depredation in seed years. The Swiss Pine suffers nothing from dis- 

 ease. The decay of the crown is the only thing of the kind, and this arises 

 rather from the weakness of age or the action of lightning. The species has, 

 however, such vitality that when stricken by lightning the stem will shoot afresh. 



For its well-being the Swiss Pine enjoys a light, cool, moist soil mixed with 

 grit or stone. The opinion formerly held that the tree does badly on a lime- 

 stone soil is incorrect. If anyone doubts this he may see the 

 proof at Grodenthal, where since 1899 we have planted over 

 100,000 Swiss Pines on a pure dolomite lime soil, from 6,000 to 7,000 feet 

 above the sea level, out of which not 5 per cent, have hitherto failed and of 

 which most of the young plants have already attained to a height of 24 to 30 

 odd feet. On very stony or sandy, dry soils the Swiss Pine never attains to 

 handsome proportions. In its native habitats it propagates itself near the parent 

 trees by seed, and the seed is also in many cases carried away by the jay and 

 concealed in the earth, and this accounts for its propagation in many situations 

 where the hand of man could not have taken it. Generally, the cultivation of 

 the Swiss Pine from seed is difficult, and success cannot be assured unless the 

 seed-beds are fully protected against mice and birds. In most of the forest 

 nurseries where the Swiss Pine is raised use is made of so-called "boxes" for 

 this purpose — that is to say, the places set apart for the beds are fenced round 

 with stout Larch posts, fastened together and sunk two thirds of their depth in 

 the ground. The u box" is filled with good soil and covered with a wired frame, 

 the rim of which is made of iron in two independent parts, fastened together 



