S96 



JOUHNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



from 100 to 180 feet, with a straight trunk of from 4 to G, or even 

 7 feet in diameter. 



In England P. Strohus is fast coming to the front, not only 

 as an ornamental, but as a valuable timber-producing tree ; indeed, 

 whether viewed from an economic or ornamental aspect, it must be 

 considered as one of the most valuable Pines that have yet been 

 introduced. A comparison of the wood produced by the Weymouth 

 Pine in this country and that sent to the Colonial and Indian 

 Exhibition revealed but slight differences, and nothing more than 

 would naturally be expected between a mature and a partially-developed 

 tree. The rapidly approaching extinction of this tree is at present 

 causing much anxiety to those who are interested in the timber 

 supplies of America, and is owing partly to the reckless and improvi- 

 dent felling carried on under the impetus of speculation. With such 

 a state of things abroad, it is to be regretted that greater numbers 

 of this Pine are not planted in suitable soils and situations in the 

 British Isles, for that there are vast tracts of almost worthless land 

 that is well suited for its culture is beyond a doubt. I do not wish 

 it to be inferred from anything here said that the Weymouth Pine is 

 suitable for planting at high altitudes and in exposed situations, for 

 such has been long ago proved to be a fallacy ; but that it will grow 

 rapidly and produce useful timber in partially sheltered districts has 

 been proved on various occasions by those who have paid particular 

 attention to the value of exotic Conifers as profitable timber-producers 

 in this country. The Weymouth Pine has much to recommend it to 

 the British arboriculturist, for besides the great quantity of valuable 

 timber it produces, it certainly is the handsomest of the genus that 

 has been found to be perfectly hardy in these isles. Its form is 

 light and elegant, and the silvery glaucous leaves afford a distinct and 

 pleasing contrast to the majority of the cultivated Pines. Whether 

 grov/n as a plantation tree, or singly for purely ornamental purposes, 

 the stem is always straight and clean, and the branches evenly 

 distributed. The Weymouth Pine is a tree of very rapid growth, 

 numerous specimens (of which I have kept a record) having attained 

 to an average height of 57 feet in thirty years (Trans. Roy. Scot. 

 Arb. Soc. xii. pt. 2). 



This species has in some parts of Denmark, at the age of about 

 sixty years, attained a height of 80 feet ; while others, planted in 

 1845, are 47 feet high, with a circumference of stem of 2 feet 8 inches. 



P. Strohus has been planted on many parts of the coast of Norway 

 as far north as Drontheim (Trondhjem, 63'^ 26'), where it succeeds 

 very well, and probably it would thrive even farther north. 



The largest specimen to be found in Norway is to be seen near 

 Christiania, at Bogstad. It was planted nearly a hundred years ago, 

 and is now about 80 feet in height, with a circumference of more 

 than 6 feet. 



