THE FOREST TREES OF BRITAIN. 
33 
selves of the discoveries of Linnaeus, and have 
undoubtedly made considerable advances to- 
wards a natural system, against which this objec- 
tion cannot be urged, but they have neglected 
to tender their acknowledgments to one who 
did more to dissipate the gloom in which the 
science of natural history was shrouded, than 
any, or even all, of his predecessors." — Introd. 
pp. xxiii. xxiv. 
The natural orders are described very 
clearly, though not at great length. The 
single example of Coniferae is as good as any 
for our purpose of showing the style in which 
it is treated ; but it must be noted that this is 
only in the Introduction ; when the trees are 
described individually, they are treated more 
elaborately. Of the order Conifera?, the 
author says, — 
" This order derives its name from the 
peculiar kind of seed-vessel, called a ' cone,' 
produced by the Fir and other allied genera. 
Conifers are distinguished by this character, 
by their needle-like leaves, by the vessels of 
their wood being perforated with numerous 
dots, and the apparently imperfect structure of 
the pistil in the perfect flower. ' No order 
can be named of more universal importance 
to mankind than this, whether we view it 
with reference to its timber or its secretions. 
Gigantic in size, rapid in growth, noble in 
aspect, robust in constitution, these trees form 
a considerable portion of woods or plantations 
in cultivated countries, and of forests where 
nature remains in temperate countries in a 
savage state. Their timber, in commerce, is 
known under th© names of deal, fir, pine, and 
cedar, and is principally the wood of the 
Spruce, the Larch, the Scotch Fir, the Wey- 
mouth Pine, and the Virginian Cedar ; but 
others are of at least equal, if not greater 
value. Pinus palustris is the Virginian Pine, 
so largely employed in the navy for masts. 
The gates of Constantinople, famous for having 
stood from the time of Constantine to that of 
Pope Eugene IV., a period of eleven hundred 
years, were of Cypress. The Norfolk Island 
Pine (A?'aticaria excelsd) and the Kaurie 
tree of New Zealand attain the height of 200 
feet, and the latter yields an invaluable, light, 
compact wood, free from knots, from which 
the finest masts in the navy are now prepared. 
But they are both surpassed by the stupen- 
dous pines of North-west America; one of 
which, Finns Lambertiana, is reported to 
attain the height of 230 feet ; and another, 
Abies Dougladi, to equal or even to exceed 
it.' {Lindley.') Great though their value be 
as timber, they are yet more valuable for 
their copious secretion of substances useful in 
the arts and sciences. Pitch, tar, turpentine, 
resin, Burgundy pitch, Hungarian balsam, Ca- 
nada balsam, &c, are furnished by some one 
49. 
or more of these trees ; and the seeds of the 
larger kinds are edible and nourishing. The 
Scotch Fir is a British example of this order. 
The Juniper, the berry-like cones of which 
are used for flavouring hollands, extends over 
the gi'eater part of Europe and North Ame- 
rica, and is likewise found in some of the moun- 
tainous parts of Asia." — ircfr'od.pp.lxxii.lxxiv. 
With one quotation, which we shall select 
for its brevity, we shall close our extracts ; 
but not without mentioning that the Oak — 
the glory of the forest — has nearly one hun- 
dred pages devoted to it, and so interspersed 
with historical records, legendary particulars, 
and engravings, as to form the most interest- 
ing part of the volume. The Mountain Ash 
is one of our most ornamental trees, and is as 
much esteemed for the showy colour of its 
fruit as for its flowers. There is perhaps 
hardly any tree that shows the author off to 
less advantage ; but in some cases it is as 
well to show the least as it is the most inter- 
esting, when the object is to show merely the 
plan. It suits our limits just now, although 
at some future period we may be tempted to 
select some passages from the Oak. 
" This universally admired tree chooses its 
dwelling, as its name would imply, in the 
wildest and most exposed situations, where, 
though impatient of being itself sheltered by 
any other kind of trees, it affords a friendly 
protection to grass and other plants which 
choose to grow beneath its shade. As long 
as it overtops its companions in the wood or 
mountain side, it is a vigorous and stately 
tree ; but when it has attained its utmost 
height, and its more aspiring neighbours begin 
to screen it from its due share of air and light, 
it quietly retires from the contest, pines away 
in confinement, and suffers itself to be de- 
stroyed by the drip of the very trees that it 
formerly nursed and protected. 
" Hence we rarely meet with a full-grown 
Mountain Ash in a crowded forest of ancient 
trees. Where it has gained the vantage- 
ground of a broken rock partially covered 
with rich, light soil, or taken its stand in an 
open glade, amid plants of humbler growth, it 
attains a considerable size. Or, again, in an 
elevated situation, uncongenial to the rapid 
growth of its companions, but well suited to 
its own wild tastes and habits, it will continue 
to flourish for a century or more. 
" The Mountain Ash , 
No eye can overlook, when 'mid a grove 
Of yet unfaded trees she lifts her head, 
Deck'd with autumnal beiries, that outshine 
Spring's richest blossoms; and ye may have marked 
By a brook side or solitary tarn, 
How she her station do!h adorn : the pool 
Glows at her feet, and all the gloomy rocks 
Are brighten'd round her. 
Wordsworth. 
D 
