4 
PINETUM BRITANNICUM. 
and well illuftrates the gnarled appearance which in age is charadfceriftic, not only of this Pine, but of 
P. contorta, and many of the Pine trees of North-Weft America. 
In its early youth, its refrefhing green and thick-packed (lender leaves make it a beautiful fhrub. 
Geographical Dijlribution. —Apparently confined to California. It was found by Coulter in Upper 
California, in lat 36°, near the level of the fea, and growing almoft down to the beach ; alfo in the form 
both of P. infignis and P. radiata, in the neighbourhood of Monterey, not far to the fouth of San Francifco. 
It was alfo noticed by Hartweg, as above mentioned, on the defcent towards the fea on the mountains 
of San Antonio, fixty leagues fouth of Monterey. Laftly, it was found by the United States’ Exploring 
Expedition on the mountains near Oakland; alfo on the South Yuba, and on the Coaft Mountains, 
California. 
Pdijlory. —Firft difcovered by Dr Coulter, and defcribed as P. radiata by Don in the “ Linnsean 
Society’s Tranfadfions,” and immediately afterwards by Lambert in his “Genus Pinus;” then defcribed 
both as P. infignis and P, radiata by Loudon, who has been followed by fubfequent European writers. 
The American authors have not recognifed the name radiata , but only ufe infignis. As already faid, the 
former ought, properly fpeaking, to be the name; but the latter is now fo univerfally adopted that we are 
glad of any excufe for contravening the laws of priority. We have done fo on the ftrength of the form 
called infignis poffeffing the normal and more ufual charadlers of the fpecies; although the argument, we 
are afraid, is not very found. It is very much as if we fhould fay that a man of thirty is a more normal 
fpecimen of man than a man of fixty. He perhaps belongs to a more numerous fedfion, but the one is 
not a whit more normal than the other. 
It was introduced into Britain in 1833. 
Properties and Ufes. —The moft important property of this fpecies is, that it thrives well in fandy foil, 
and expofed to the fea-breeze. That heavy blafts do not clifagree with it may be gathered from the fadt 
that at Point Pinos, near Monterey, the trees had become one-fided, from the north winds blowing upon 
them for a great part of the year. 
Of its ufes, unqueftionably the chiefeft is to pleafe the eye and beautify the fcenery of our lawns and 
country refidences. Don ftates (doubtless, upon Coulter’s authority) that it “ affords excellent timber, which 
is very tough, and admirably adapted for building boats, for which purpofe it is much ufed.” More infor¬ 
mation is required upon this point. We have heard it ftated that it is utterly worthlefs, not even being 
fit for firewood. Mr William Murray mentions* that “ the ftreet planking in San Francifco ufed to be 
done with Oregon lumber, but now (1855) it is being fuperfeded by the Monterey lumber (moft likely P. 
infignis ), for the reafon that it is very refinous, and ftands the wear and tear of fuch a purpofe better ; ” a 
quality which we fhould have imagined would increafe inftead of diminifh its fitnefs for burning. 
It is to be obferved, however, that P. macwcarpa (Sabiniana) and Coidten are alfo found in plenty in 
the neighbourhood of Monterey; and we know, from the timber of trees of thefe fpecies which have been 
cut down in this country, that they are exceffively refinous, refin being extravafated in quantities throughout 
the timber. It may, therefore, be of them that the refinous Monterey lumber above fpoken of confifts. 
At any rate, it is a point to be indicated for future inquiries by thofe who have the opportunity. 
Mr Rogers of Penrofe fays that if the quality of its timber in this country can be judged of at fo early 
an age, it is light and tough, and the knots are eafily worked, are foft yet firm; having the foftnefs of Lime- 
wood rather than the fibrous rend of the Fir. At this age it is full of eyes, as Bird’s-eye Maple is. 
Cidtivation. —Its native habitat, “ on the fhores of the fea,” almoft clofe to the beach, indicates a fandy 
—- foil, 
* “ Edin. New Phil. Journal,” New Series, April i860. 
