52 



the owner of the estate. They grow close to the road and rail- 

 way, at the foot of a great sandhill on the open barren heath, 

 two or three miles south-west of Ringwood, in sand, which is never 

 apparently dried up in summer, owing to the percolatijn from the 

 hill above; the trees being well sheltered from the south-west and 

 drawn up by maritime pines which grow around them. They 

 have the umbrella-shaped head of the true Roman pine, and are 

 from 50ft. to 60ft. high by 4ft. to 5ft. in girth. They produce 

 cones abundantly, which are attractive to squirrels, which eat the 

 seed before it falls. By their bark, their cones, and their habit 

 they are easily distinguished from the maritime pines." Mr. 

 Elwes makes further reference to similar trees growing at Heron 

 Court, the largest of which is no less than 13ft. in girth at 2^ft., 

 where it divides into large branches, but does not exceed 40ft. to 

 45ft. in height. There are two groups in the park of smaller size 

 all of which seemed to bear ripe seed in 1906. 



It is not improbable that the Stone pines at Heron Court were 

 planted at the same time as the trees at Matcham Park, and that 

 the seed came from the same source. It may be useful to recall 

 that Lord Nelson's sister (Mrs. Matcham) lived at Matcham Park 

 during the time he stayed at Calshot Castle near Southampton ; 

 also that the first Earl Malmesbury was an intimate friend of Lord 

 Nelson's. The story, therefore, about the seeds of the StOne pine 

 having been brought by Lord Nelson from the Mediterranean 

 and planted at Matcham Park and Heron Court is not at all 

 improbable. Mrs. Matcham's grand-daughter (Mrs. Crowther) 

 died at Branksome on December 26th, 191 5. 



For planting on the Bagshot beds in Hants and Dorset the 

 Corsican pine is recommended in preference to the Douglas fir, 

 which seldom thrives in such situations. Mr. Alfred Pope, Mr. 

 Lane, and others are carrying out some interesting tree planting 

 experiments in Dorset with various conifers. The Corsican pine 

 is apparently giving good promise of success. The specimen 

 Corsican pine in the Queen's Drive at Canford Manor is 110ft. 

 high, with a girth of 9ft. 6in. 



Silver Firs. 



In the silver firs the cones stand erect on the branches, while 

 in the other group of firs, the spruces, they usually hang down. 

 There is another point of difference, the leaves in the spruces are 

 set upon little pegs which remain on the twig when the leaves 

 fall. The silver firs are so-called because usually they have grey 

 or silvery bands on the under side of the leaf. There are no silver 

 firs native of Britain. What is known as the common silver fir 

 (Abies pectinata) has been introduced from Southern and Central 

 Europe, but it has found a congenial home in these islands. 

 Members of the Society will remember that they saw some hand- 

 some silver firs when, by the courtesy of Mr. Bond, 

 they lately visited Creech Grange, near Wareham. For 

 purposes of timber probably the common silver fir and 



