PINETUM DANICUM, 



377 



Lobb, &c., have all aided in introducing it into England ("Pinotum 

 Britannicum," 1884, vol. i.). 



It does not occur in any of the botanical lists of the different 

 United States exploring expeditions which crossed the continent within 

 the United States territory for the purpose of ascertaining the best 

 route for a railroad to the Pacific. This may have been due to the 

 distribution of the tree being local, as these expeditions only crossed 

 the country transversely from east to west, and did not explore it 

 longitudinally from north to south, while the expeditions which have 

 done so found it. 



A large tree, 100-150 feet in height, with a trunk 3-5 feet in 

 diameter ; most common, and reaching its greatest development, 

 in the Pend d' Oreille and Clark's Fork regions of Idaho — here a 

 valuable and important timber tree ; in British Columbia generally 

 below 3,000 feet, and in California between 7,000 and 10,000 feet eleva- 

 tion ; not common (C. S. Sargent). 



P. monticola is so nearly allied to the Weymouth Pine (P. Strobus)^ 

 that Loudon thought this might only prove a variety of it, and conse- 

 quently only separated them provisionally, until an opportunity occurred 

 of examining the male catkins and ascertaining other particulars. This 

 information we now have, and no doubt exists as to its being a distinct 

 species from P. Strobus. The only doubt now is whether two species 

 are not included under the name P. monticola. It is a handsomer tree 

 than P. Strohus, its green is darker and richer, the leaves are stiffer 

 and less serrulate, while its beautiful orange-coloured cones add to its 

 attractions. It seems less liable to break, and consequently has more 

 rarely double branches or competing leaders than the Weymouth Pine. 



That such a beautiful and free-growing tree has now, after a fair 

 trial, been found to be well suited for planting in British woodlands 

 is a matter of the greatest importance, for certainly few members of 

 the Pine family combine the useful with the ornamental in so high a 

 degree. P. monticola is a very handsome tree, about midway in 

 appearance between P. Cemhra and P. Strohns. The contour of a 

 fair-sized specimen may be called pyramidal, not so much, however, 

 as in P. Cemhra, with an abundance of rather short branches, well 

 clothed with dark rich green foliage. More, perhaps, as an ornamental 

 tree than as a valuable timber-producer is this Pine known to us ; yet in 

 this latter respect it is certainly far from valueless, as fine samples of 

 its timber, as well as the various uses to which it is applied, clearly 

 point out. The timber, of which a plank 18 feet long, 46 inches wide, 

 and 3 inches thick, was once exhibited, was well packed and firm, not 

 of too deep a colour, and well adapted for using where strength and 

 lasting qualities are of first importance. The value of the wood, as 

 grown in England, has not yet been fairly tested. As an ornamental 

 tree it, however, occupies the front rank (Trans. Roy. Scot, Arb, 

 SoQ. xii. pt. 2), 



