PINETUM BRITANNICUM. 
2 
greenifh brown, externally refinous, erefit, growing on the upper fide of the terminal branches, feffile, and 
conftantly accompanied by an involucre at the bafe, compofed of fmaller membraneous, fterile, bradeal fcales ; 
the bradeal fcales rounded, with the margin broadly membraneous, crenulated, fubmarginate at the apex, 
with a projeding midrib or nervure, convex, fmooth on both Tides. Cones, fcarcely larger, but thicker than 
thofe of P. Peclinata, often cluftered together, ered, feffile, cylindric-ovoid, and obtufe. Scales [fig. 5] fub- 
triangular, obtufely cuneate, and rounded at the apex, deciduous with the feeds. Brads adherent to the 
fcales, fhort, ovate, emarginate, fhortly mucronate [figs. 6 a and 6 b, magnified]. Seeds [fig. 7] triquetral; 
the wings of the feeds membraneous, femi-tranfparent, nearly equal in length to the fcale. Cotyledons, feven. 
Defcription .—A 1110ft beautiful tree, both in its young and older hate. In its young hate it refembles 
P. Cefthalonica, from which, however, it is readily diftinguifhed by the different form of its leaves, which are 
broader, lefs acute, and have fewer rows of fiomata on the under fide, and are not twilled at the bafe, as 
in P. Cefthalonica. The cones are at once diftinguifhed by the brads of the fcales not being exferted. 
In its older ftate this tree is faid to have much of the afped of P. Peclinata; but in Britain no old 
examples exift. The Silver Fir was introduced into Britain in the seventeenth century ; the P. Pinfafto only 
in 1838. Materials for comparifon here, therefore, do not exift. There are, however, many fine young 
trees in this country of fome fize and much beauty. Wherever it grows well, it is defervedly a favourite. 
Geographical Diftribution. —Forefts of this tree are found in the mountainous fub-alpine diftrid of 
Grenada, in Spain, where it is clearly the reprefentative of its allies P. Cefthalonica and P. Aftollinis , which 
are found in Cephalonia and Greece, in nearly the fame latitudes. Among other mountains in Grenada, 
the following have been fpecially noted as abounding with it: the upper part of the Sierra Benneja, above 
Eftepona; the upper half of the Sierra Nevada; and the province of Ronda, at the height of from 3500 to 
6000 feet. It is probably alfo found on the Cerro of San Chriftoval. Mr Gordon fays that it prefers the 
northern expofures, and that it reaches even near the fummits, where the fnow lies at leaft four or five 
months in the year. It is alfo faid to be met with in fome parts of the oppofite coaft of Marocco. 
Hijlory. —It was firft defcribed by Boiffier in the year 1838, and has fince been largely introduced into 
this country. 
Properties and Ufes. —The timber is ufed for the fame purpofes as the common Silver Fir, which it 
much refembles. 
Culture. —This tree grows readily in this country. One of the fineft plants which we know of is in 
Dr Findley’s garden at Adon Green. It was raifed from the feeds firft introduced, is growing in fine foil, 
and in an expofure and climate fuited to it, and is now upwards of 25 feet high. There is a fpecimen 25 
feet high at Blenheim Park, growing in an expofed fituation, on a calcareous foil on the oolitic formation. 
There are good fpecimens at Caftle Afhby, in Northamptonfhire, and at Eaftnor Caftle, in Flerefordfhire, 
each 15 feet in height. In France it grows equally well; and we have not heard of any plant being 
injured in either country by the extreme cold of the winter of 1860-61. 
A variety of this tree has been raifed with variegated leaves of a pale yellow or ftraw colour. 
Commercial Statijiics. —Price of feedlings in 1840, 2 to 4 inches, 2s. 6d. each; in 1845, 6 inches 
high, 12s. per dozen, and 9 to 12 inches, 18s. In 1851, plants from 12 to 15 inches were fold for 4s. each ; 
and the golden-leaved variety, noticed above, was fold in pots, 9 to 12 inches high, for 20s. each. The 
prices in 1863 are as follows: 1 year feedling, 10s. 6d. per 100 ; 2 years, 4s. per dozen; fpecimen plants 
from 3 to 5 feet, 15s. to 42s. each; feed, 2s. 6d. to 15s. per lb., according to quality. 
The number of plants diftributed in this country is now confiderable, but chiefly young. The ftock in 
nurferies is moderate. 
