March 24, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
473 
Galanthus Elwesii. 
TWO USEFUL PINES. 
The Corsican Pine (Pinus Laricio).—This is, un¬ 
doubtedly, the best all-round Conifer that has found its 
way into the British Isles, and we predict that ere long 
the number of trees to be found in woods and plantations 
will far exceed that of any other introduced or native 
species. It is of very rapid growth, and is well suited 
for planting even in the most exposed and wind¬ 
swept situations; a non-fastidious subject as to soil, 
and withal perhaps the most valuable timber producer 
that has ever been brought before the British arbori¬ 
culturist. As to its adaptability for withstanding long- 
continued and cold blasts at high altitudes, ample 
evidence can be adduced on many an English and 
Scotch estate where this Pine has been introduced to 
the woodlands in such quantity as to form the ultimate 
or standing crop. In north Wales, on one of the 
Snowdon range of hills, the writer has planted the 
Corsican Pine in great quantity, in one instance a 
unceasing storm. Other notable instances of how well 
the Corsican does on exposed ground and at high 
altitudes might be pointed out, such as at Blair Athol, 
in Perthshire, at 700 ft., where it is thriving 
amazingly ; and again in Yorkshire, one of the most 
barren and wind-swept of English counties, where it 
grows with a luxuriance that is almost unequalled in 
any other part of Britain. In Ireland it also does well, 
and has been very favourably reported on by the veteran 
arboriculturist—Lord Powerscourt. 
The quality of timber produced by the Corsican Pine 
is another point that weighs strongly in favour of this 
tree, for, from our own experience of home-grown wood, 
it is, so far as lasting qualities are concerned, second to 
no other we have yet tried. It is strong, tough, elastic, 
very resinous, and easily worked, and this is speaking 
of trees of fully fifty years’ growth. We have used 
home-grown Laricio wood for many purposes experi¬ 
mentally, and always with the most satisfactory results, 
some of the largest planks employed in this way being 
fully 27 ins. wide, and cut from trees that girthed 
nearly 9 ft. at a yard from the ground level. Another 
point that is much in favour of the Laricio as a forest 
tree in this country is that it will succeed better on 
sandy or gravelly soil than that of almost any other 
class—the very quality that produces heart-rot in that 
valuable tree, the Larch. We do not wish it to be 
inferred, however, that the Laricio will only grow 
satisfactorily on sandy soils, but that the largest and 
finest trees in this country are planted in such I am 
quite prepared to prove, should the statement 
be questioned. The Corsican Pine has an unusually 
narrow spread of branches in comparison with the 
height and bulk of the tree, a point that should 
never be overlooked in our choice of forest 
subjects. As an ornamental tree it is almost 
superfluous for me to say one word in favour 
of the Corsican, its light, airy, and by no 
means stiff appearance being well known to almost 
every tree lover. The Laricio lias, however, one bad 
fault, or may be two. It transplants badly, and is by 
no means free from the attacks of the boring beetles 
that have so infested our woods, particularly of late 
years ; but these evils are, 
happily, easily counteracted 
by a little careful forethought 
and management. To pro¬ 
duce well-rooted specimens 
of this Pine, early and annual 
transplanting must be at¬ 
tended to, otherwise usually 
but one or two large tap-roots 
and a few small ones are 
produced, and final planting 
out becomes well nigh an im¬ 
possibility. Its worst enemy 
in the insect ivay is the Pine 
beetle (Hylurgus piniperda), 
which bores into the leading 
shoot, and thus renders it so 
feeble as to be readily broken 
over during a storm. The 
ravages of this dread insect 
may, however, be greatly 
minimised by not allowing 
any decaying wood or 
branches to lie about, either 
in the woodland or in close 
contiguity thereto. In re¬ 
capitulation, it may be said 
that the Corsican Pine is 
perfectly hardy, peculiarly 
well suited for planting in 
exposed situations, a rapid 
and valuable timber pro¬ 
ducer, a tree that is easily 
and cheaply raised from seed, 
and one of the most non¬ 
exacting Conifers as regards 
choice of soil that could be 
named—all qualities of the 
highest value in a timber- 
producing tree, and that are 
rarely so well concentrated 
in any other species. 
In France extensive plan¬ 
tations of the Laricio have 
been formed, while the 
Prussian Government has 
introduced it extensively 
into the state forests. 
Lord Weymouth’s Pine 
(P. strobus), whether viewed 
in an economic or ornamental aspect, must be con¬ 
sidered as another of the most valuable Pines that 
have yet been introduced to this country. Admit we 
must that in certain (ill chosen) situations the culti¬ 
vation of this handsome tree has been attended with no 
very promising results ; but then it should be remem¬ 
bered that, like most other trees, the Weymouth Pine 
has its likes and dislikes of soil as well, indeed, as 
aspect and altitude. That it has succeeded well and 
produced an unusually large quantity of clean and firm 
wood in various parts of the country cannot be gainsaid ; 
but then, in such places, its peculiar wants have been 
attended to, and no haphazard planting allowed. At 
Gwydyr Castle in North Wales the tree succeeds 
admirably, specimens fully 90 ft. in height, straight 
as arrows and branchless three-fourths their length, 
and girthing fully 8 ft. at breast high, being not 
uncommon. The soil is rocky dibris, largely inter¬ 
mixed with vegetable refuse, being fairly moist at all 
times, but without stagnant moisture. The situation 
is by no means sheltered, yet not fully exposed. The 
trees of Pinus strobus occur chiefly, and are of 
largest dimensions where the force of the wind is 
quantities of roots project on all sides, over the rims of 
the pots. Owing to the damp condition of the atmo¬ 
sphere, which is necessitated together with a favourable 
temperature to urge the Lilacs and other subjects into 
flower, the roots do not seem to suffer from denudation. 
The pots also preserve a nucleus of soil and a quantity 
of roots intact, so that further care in protecting the 
latter is unnecessary, the constitution of the Lilac 
being very strong, and surmounting a great deal of 
unnatural treatment. By pruning away the weak and 
useless wood, the whole strength of the plant is thrown 
into the remaining shoots, which are furnished with 
flower buds ; and we must acknowledge that those we 
saw were well set all along the upper part with an 
abundance of them. 
Batches earlier introduced to heat were in full flower, 
and carried such a profusion of blooms, while the 
plants were stood closely together, that the absence of 
a fuller leafage was scarcely apparent. The flowers 
also come somewhat in advance of the leaves when 
forced. As an instance of 
the readiness with which 
the Lilac conforms to forcing, 
it need only be stated 
that Mr. Drost has had it 
in flower since October last, 
and to him we are indebted 
for the practicable evidence 
that Lilac can both be 
grown and forced profitably 
in this country. Judging 
from the quantity that one 
sees in the market all 
through the winter months, 
the Lilac is held in very 
high esteem, which must be 
attributed not only to the 
close and handsome appear¬ 
ance of the panicle of flowers, 
their clear or pure white 
and clean-looking shades of 
colour and lasting qualities, 
but to their fragrance as 
welL This last quality was 
particularly impressed upon 
us on entering the house 
containing those in full 
bloom. After seeing them, 
we cannot but think that 
they might be more exten¬ 
sively employed in private 
establishments where large 
quantities are required for 
cut purposes. 
After flowering, the plants 
are pruned hard back (if 
they have not been so in 
the mere process of cutting 
off the flower-bearing shoots 
for market), and planted 
in the open ground to 
recruit. They are not fit for 
forcing purposes again till 
after some three years’ 
growth. There seems no 
apparent reason why Lilac 
for home purposes should 
not be entirely grown in this 
country. Plants in the 
shrubbery border without 
any special attention bear testimony to the abundant 
harvest of flowers that may be reaped. 
-- 
plantation of nearly forty acres in extent, and at 
altitudes varying from 500 ft. to fully 750 ft. above sea 
level, being formed of this tree, not alone, but at such 
distances apart as would allow these to be retained at 
the final thinning, the space between being filled up 
with the Larch, Austrian and Scotch Firs, and numer¬ 
ous hard-woods, these for removing at an early date or 
during the first thinnings. 
The plantation was for the greater part fully exposed 
to the dread south-westerly wind, which at times blows 
hard and long, and sweeps the hill-sides with terrific 
fury, yet under such unfavourable conditions the 
Corsican Pine has done remarkably well, in fact proved 
itself to be well suited for planting at high altitudes on 
our English hill-sides. Even at the highest point of 
the woodland in question, this Pine has thriven in a 
manner that is quite surprising, and thrown its 
stoutest branches out into the very teeth of the blast, 
and that where hardly a hard-wood could survive, and 
even the Scotch Fir shrunk from the cold and almost 
