126 



PINACE^. 



at first straight, when old sometimes they are twisted; broad, flexible, 

 sharp-pointed, thickly set, and of a rich deep green in colour. 



Cones, from two to four inches long, and from one to two inches 

 broad at swell ; tapering to base, but more so to apex. Singly, or in 

 twos, threes, or whorled clusters; having short footstalks, and some- 

 what drooping. 



It attains heights of from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet; with 

 few branches, which are disposed in regular whorls on the stem, hori- 

 zontal, but when old, drooping ; and old trees of it are generally free 

 of branches from one-third to half of their height. It is sufficiently 

 hardy for the climate of Britain, and of tolerably rapid growth, but 

 somewhat capricious in its likes of soil and situation. Its wood is so 

 heavy that it sinks in water, hence its name ; but it is coarse-grained, 

 not elastic, not durable, and incapable of being polished; its use in 

 this country, therefore, will be as a large-sized, free-growing, orna- 

 mental Pine, for a good soil and situation in any pinetum or 

 arboretum. 



PiNUS PrOTUBRANS : The Protuberant-Scaled Pine. 



This is merely a qimsi-MontezumcB, and in nothing different from it ; 

 unless, indeed, in its cones, which are a little smaller, and its scales, 

 which are a little more angular and elevated. 



PlNUS PseudO-StrOBUS : The False or Bastard Strobus Pine. 



This perverse phrase, and barbarous term, is a very convenient one 

 for hair-splitting doctors when in difficulties, one wliich was originally 

 applied to a quasi-species of Strohm^ introduced into Britain from 

 ]\lexico nearly thirty years ago ; but of late years so many altered forms 

 of this quasi have been found in that country, and also in other parts of 

 the globe, that this quasi is now elevated to the rank of a queen, and 

 rules over a numerous progeny of Strobus-like varieties ; but it is 

 at best, only a long-leaved form of Finns Strohus, which I call 

 Strohus LongifoJia ; and although a very beautiful tree, yet it is too 

 delicate and fastidious for general planting in the climate and soils of 

 Britain : for even in a good loamy soil, on free or gravelly substrata, 

 in a warm locality, and sheltered situation, it does not succeed. 



PmUS PUMILIO : The Dwarf Mountain Pine. 



This little tree was introduced into Britain from Carniola nearly a 

 hundred years ago : but it has since been found more or less plentiful 

 on all the mountain ranges of central Europe. It is useful for planting 

 as a cover plant upon high or very exposed localities, or in chalky soils 

 where it would do better than most of the Pines. Its only distinguish- 



