PREFACE. 



vii 



and the innumerable synomyms or aliases in which the Firs and Pines 

 are at present confounded, no other term is so appropriate or truthful 

 as chaos, which to attempt to reduce to perfect order were a somewhat 

 Herculean task, and a very bold enterprize ; and the author who 

 should perfectly perform it would deserve well of his country, and be 

 legitimately entitled to a niche in the temple of Fame. 



Excelsior, however, not Perfectio, is my present motto ; and you, 

 my readers, are and shall be my judges ; and in opening the case for 

 my present client, I must needs declare to you, for I have as yet only 

 indicated "the reason why" this volume is now placed before you at 

 the bar of public opinion, which is simply this : — The Scottish Arbori- 

 cultural Society has for some years past offered a prize for the best 

 Essay upon " The Introduction and Cultivation of the newer Coniferae, 

 with special reference to the climate of Great Eritain and Ireland 

 and having often been requested by many of my arboricultural 

 patrons, friends, and professional brethren, to enter the lists as a 

 competitor, I was at last induced to do so ; and, during the autumn of 

 1864, sent in the subject matter of the following pages, under the 

 motto, Wave your tops, ye Pines to which the Judges on Essays 

 awarded the first prize. The Essay was, however, accompanied by a 

 code of conditions on my part, subject to which I entered as a com- 

 petitor ; the chief of which was my retaining the Copyriglit. To this 

 the Publishing Committee objected, and I was by them requested to 

 withdraw the stipulation. This, however, I declined to do, and the 

 consequence was, I won the honour, and forfeited the gold ; and by so 

 doing I neither propitiated nor satisfied my patrons, friends, or pro- 

 fessional brethren; for renewed requests became common as black- 

 berries for the publication of my new-fangled ideas upon the Firs 

 and Pines. Again, for a time, I resisted the temptation to rush into 

 print ; but as pressure increased, I became more disposed to do so, 

 although I had an intention, which in due course will be carried 

 out, that much of this book should, D.V., re-appear in my more care- 

 fully compiled and elaborate works, " The Ligneous Trees and Shrubs 

 of the World," and "The British Arboriculturist;" upon which 

 works, in my leisure hours, I am now engaged. It has, however, 

 occurred to many, and is suggested to me, that this volume, published 

 in its present form, and fully treating of this particular and important 



