64 



BRITISH FOREST TREES. 



Scots fir, or Norway pine. 

 Pinaster, 



Pinus sylvestris. 

 Pinus Pinaster. 



Canadian red Pine * (foreign), * * * * 

 Pitch pine (foreign), * » * ^ 



And, though a little more distinct, 

 Yellow American, or Weymouth Pine, Pinus Strohiis. 



Very little observation will distinguish these from 

 the next useful great tribe of the Coniferae with 

 white wood, the Spruces and Silver Firs — Abies. 



There are a number of foreign kinds of pine, some 

 of great promise, recently introduced into Britain, 

 but of whose adaptation for ship-building we cannot 

 speak. Samples of the timber of P. laricio, P. 

 tceda, P. ce?7ibra, P maritima, P. rigida, &c. of 

 British growth, may, however, soon be had of suffi- 

 cient size for experiment. The common Scots fir 

 is the only pine of British growth which has been 

 employed as a naval timber; for which pm*pose, 

 however, since the last peace, and the introduction 

 of our larch, it is in very little demand. 



An acute botanist, Mr G. Don of Forfar, a num- 

 ber of years ago, gave a description of the varieties 

 of cultivated Scots fir which had come under his notice. 

 The following is an abstract of his observations : 



* Red Canadian pine is generally termed Pinus resinosa ; but 

 as it is not so resinous as several other kinds, we consider Pinus 

 rubra {rubra from the colour of stem and also of timber), which 

 is sometimes used, more suitable. The pitch pine of the Ame- 

 rican United States should be Pinus resinosa. 



