PINETUM BRITANNICUM.
cloth, wholly difappeared on the way, leaving the cloth faturated and ftiff with the melted refin. Its odour
is pleafantly terebinthine.
Culture.—Mr Beardfley's account of the native habitat of the tree gives a ufeful hint to cultivators
in this country. If he is correct in (tating it to occupy exclufively the calcareous diftricSts, we have an
indication of the kind of foil molt adapted to it. No doubt Mr Lobb fays that it grows in flaty rubbifh,
but he does not tell us whether it is calcareous (late or not. Beardfley's pofitive declaration on the fubject,
coupled with what we know, aliunde, of the geological character of the dittrict, juftify us in ftating that
it does grow on the limeftone formation, and hence the moft favourable diftricts for it in this country will
probably be the chalk and lias. From its locality being fo far fouth as 36° N. lat., and Dr Coulter's
remark that it grows 1000 feet lower on the mountains than Pinus Coulteri, it is probably lefs hardy than
the general run of Californian Pines. Still the facts, that Hartweg found the cones froft-bitten, and that
Beardfley nearly got froft-bitten himfelf, fufficiently fhew that it grows in a climate not free from a
confiderable degree of cold. It has not yet been fairly tried in this country—only young and tender infant
plants having been expofed to the rigour of our climate; and it would be as unreafonable to expect them
to have as great power of refilling fevere weather as full-grown trees have, as it would be for ourfelves to
expect as much endurance from an infant as a grown man. Rather expecting, therefore, to find the young
plants deficient in hardinefs, we have been agreeably furprifed to find that they have in fome places ftood
the fevere frofts of the winter of 1860-61 uninjured. Mr Palmer's tables give, out of thirteen localities in
England, three killed, two injured, and feven uninjured; three in Scotland all uninjured, and two in Ireland
uninjured. At Borthvvick Hall, fixteen miles fouth of Edinburgh, this was the cafe, although the
ground is high (Soo feet above the fea-level) and expofed. The fpring frofts are what are chiefly to be
dreaded. It feems to ftand any amount of cold when dormant, but, being an early grower, is liable to be
injured by fpring frofts. Knowing this, precautions can be taken accordingly; at all events until the tree
is well eftablifhed.
It is, however, fo beautiful and interefting a Conifer, that we may reft affured that a fair trial will be
given to it. Arboriculturists will not readily defpair of naturalifing fuch a gem; and at the very worft,
(hould our climate prove too fevere for it, that of the fouth of France and the Pyrenees will furnifli
conditions fuitable to its growth.
It fhould be fown in a cold frame, and the young plants muft receive fome protection in the winter.
CommercialStatijlics.—Price in 1854, 6 inches high, 60s. each ; in i860, 2-years' feedlings, 15s. each ;
in 1862, 4-years' feedlings, 15s. each; in 1864, plants from 6 to 12 inches, 15s. each.