2 
PINUS MONTICOLA. 
young, orange-fawn coloured when old, pendent, narrow, elongate, with tears of resin almost always exuding 
from the exposed part of the scale ; from 6 to 8 inches in length, and about an inch in breadth, attenuate 
towards the apex. Scales (fig. 7 inner side, and fig. 8 outer side), disposed spirally in eight rows ; where 
not exposed brown opaque, the apophysis adpressed, somewhat slightly striated; downy-opaque and 
orange-fawn coloured; the umbo small, terminal, dark brown, sub-quadrangular acute. Seeds and wing 
(fig. 9) fawn-coloured, lying in a hollow at the base of the wing, where they are covered by the wing they 
bear; the wings long and pointed, four times the length of the seed, and marked with blackish-brown 
waved striae, most numerous at the apex, so as to be almost entirely dark-brown. The testa of the seed 
(fig. 10) itself is unspotted. 
Description .—Nearly allied to the Weymouth Pine (. P. Strobus), so much so that Loudon thought 
this might only prove a variety of it, and consequently only separated them provisionally, “ until an 
opportunity occurs 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. Strobus, 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. 
/ 
Geographical Distribution .—This is a native of North-West America, where it represents the Wey¬ 
mouth Pine of the eastern coast of the Continent. It is found in the high mountains at the Grand Rapids 
of the Columbia, on the rocky banks of the Spokan river. It also grows in Northern California, about 
Scots Mountain. 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. 
History. —First discovered by Douglas in 1831 ; since then collected by many explorers. Jeffrey, 
Murray, Beardsley, Bridges, Lobb, &c., have all aided in introducing it into this country. 
Properties and Uses. —We have no experience of the timber of this tree in this country, and not 
much in its native land. The timber is soft, white, and light, and doubtless, like that of the Wey¬ 
mouth Pine, it will be of use for masts and yards of ships as well as for all ordinary purposes; like it, 
too, it is probably not a wood possessed of great strength or tenacity. 
Culture. —The tree is perfectly hardy, and well suited for this country. Only two instances of 
trees being killed by the frost during the severe winter of i860, are recorded in Mr. Palmers tables 
out of thirty-seven reported on, and one of these was otherwise ailing. It likes a good loamy soil, not 
too dry. It is now widely distributed, and is a very general favourite, so that fine specimens are to be 
seen in many places in Britain. Trees of 15 and 20 feet in height are by no means scarce, and young 
ones are plentiful. 
Some good specimens are growing at Calderstone, in Lancashire, Elvaston, Easton Park, and High- 
nam Court; and at Murthly Castle and Keillor in Perthshire, as well as at Riccarton, where in 1872 there 
was a fine specimen 30 feet in height. These are all more than 40 feet in height. 
Commercial Statistics. —Price in 1851, plants 6 to 9 inches, 30s. each; in 1865, 12 to 18 inches, 5s. 
to 7s. 6d. ; in 1875, 18 inches to 2 feet, 5s. to 7s. 6d. ; in 1883, 12 to 18 inches, 2s. to 3s., 3 feet to 4 feet, 
5s., 6 feet to 8 feet, 7s. 6d. to 10s. 
