VALUE IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS ON INTRODUCED CONIFERS. 93 



Boyal, 70 ft. high and 6 ft. in girth ; the next at Orton Longue- 

 ville, 69 ft. high ; and at Linton Park, 60 ft. high and 3 ft. 8 in. 

 in girth. In Scotland, at Munches, it is 60 ft. high and 6 ft. 

 1 in, in girth. At Coollattin, in Ireland, it is 16 ft. in girth 

 and 44 ft. high. 



Finns insignis is the fastest growing of all the Californian 

 Pines introduced to this country, and in a suitable soil and 

 climate it soon forms a large and well-furnished tree. It is a 

 native of the Pacific coast in California, and was introduced to 

 Britain by Douglas in 1833. It is not sufficiently hardy to form 

 a useful forest tree in most parts of England and Scotland, 

 but notable exceptions to the general rule are seen near the 

 coasts in both countries, and also far inland, as, for instance, 

 the splendid trees of it growing at Dropmore. It is in Ireland, 

 however, where the tree is seen growing most frequently with 

 the greatest vigour, and for many parts of that country it is one 

 of the most useful of forest trees. As mentioned when speaking 

 of the Monterey Cypress, Cupressus macrocarjoa, this is also a 

 first-rate tree for withstanding the saline breeze in maritime 

 districts ; and I may again quote a few lines from Mr. Lee's 

 letter, bearing directly on Pinis insignis in its native habitat : 

 " The Pinus insignis grows wild on the high ground and mountain- 

 sides around Monterey, and away round Point Pinos and to the 

 southward along the coast for many miles, in full exposure to 

 the heavy gales from the Pacific Ocean, and flourishes there 

 much better than in the drier parts of the County of 

 Monterey lying beyond the mountains and sheltered from the 

 ocean breeze. It reproduces itself freely from seed, and fre- 

 quently in the forest a few square feet of ground will furnish 

 a hundred or more of nice seedlings, which we lift and trans- 

 plant with perfect success. The tree grows rapidly, and for 

 a number of years it is well clothed with its grass-green leaves, 

 and is very handsome ; but when it attains a good age and full 

 height, the lower branches gradually disappear and the tree 

 becomes fiat-headed. The wood is not considered of much 

 value here, w^here we have abundance of fine timber from other 

 trees ; but it is largely used for common purposes, and furnislies 

 the principal fuel of the district, its heating powers being 

 among the best of our native trees. I have before me the 

 dimensions of the fine Finus insignis at Linton Park, Kent, 



