2184

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

wooded Scotch pine, when come to some age, is, in wet ground, attacked bythe rot; which commences in the collar, and spreads to the adjacent rootsand up the stem.in a manner very similar to the rot in the larch. The red woodapproaches nearer to the outside of the trunk, in trees where the rot exists,than in others, and is nearest that side of the tree where the rot is the greatest.This disease is found in trees growing in poor wet tills, and in flat, sandy,moorish soils, with a retentive subsoil. “ The fact that the red pine in Scot-land has fewer sap wood layers than the red pine of Memel or of NorthAmerica, and also the fact that, in most situations in Scotland, the red pinesoon decays, and soonest in the places where the trees have fewest sap woodlayers, and where the timber has been planted, that is, where the cones havebeen kilndried, are worthy of notice. Scotch red pine has generally from14 to 40 layers; Memel, from 40 to 50; Canadian,often 100. We considerthe long, moist, open winter, and cold ungenial spring in Scotland, and thetill bottoms soaking with water, perhaps aided by the transplanting, and thekilndrying of the cones, to be the causes of this early loss of vitality' or changeof sap wood into matured wood. In Poland and Prussia, the earth doesnot remain so long cold and moist as in Scotland, but is either frozen, orsufficiently warm and dry : this occurs even to a greater degree in Canada;and neither the Memel nor Canadian trees have any chance of being planted, orthe seeds kilndried.” (On Naval Timber, p. 75.) In mountainous countries,and in countries subject to heavy falls of snow, the Scotch pine is liable tothe accidents which we have mentioned (p. 2136.) as common to the ordergenerally ; and not only forests take fire, but also single trees. A remarkableinstance of this last kind of accident is noticed by Dr. Howison, who visitedthe north of Russia in 1818; and who, having observed many large trees of thePinus sylvestris standing erect in the forest, in a withered, and frequently ina dead state, was led to examine into the reason. He was not a little sur-prised to find that, in many cases, although the bark was entire, the interiorpart or wood of the tree was in a great measure charred. On enquiry, hefound that this w’as occasioned by the travelling boors, in the sultry dry wea-ther of summer, seeking the shade of large trees, and making fires for dressingtheir victuals about the roots of the trees. Many of these roots lie near thesurface; and, as they abound very much with resinous matter, they readilycatch fire. The fire seems to be propagated slowly, as in match paper; agradual and stifled combustion creeps onwards, encouraged by the drought,and constantly fed by the empyreumatic oil of turpentine (or tar), which isproduced by the heat, until the interior of the trunk itself be destroyed.(Jameson’s Journal, iv. p. 207.)— We have given these ample details on thesubject of the Scotch pine, considering it by far the most valuable timbertree of the genus in Britain, and even in Europe.

Statistics. Recorded Trees. Gilpin mentions Basilsleigh, in Berkshire, as containing some ofthe most picturesque species of the Scotch pine in England in his time. He also mentions somefine trees at Thirkleby, near Tliirsk, in Yorkshire, a few of which still exist. In Scotland, at In-verary, a tree mentioned in the Argyllshire Report has a trunk 10 ft. in circumference at 4 ft. fromthe ground j oneat Castle Huntley, in Perthshire, measured in 1796, was 13 ft. 6 in. in circumfe-rence at 3 ft. from the ground ; and, close by the ground, 19 ft. in circumference. This treewas considered at the time the largest in the county. At Cameron, in Dumbartonshire, onthe shores of Loch Lomond, a tree, in 1784, measured 7 ft. 2 in. in circumference at 4 ft. from theground; one at Bargally, in 1780, measured 9 ft. 3 in. in circumference, and 90 ft. high, with 22 ft.of clear stem. It was planted in 1697, and, consequently, was nearly 100 years old. According toDr. Walker, in the year 1740, the late Sir J. Nasmyth, formed at New Posso, in Tweeddale, a veryextensive Scotch pine plantation on the north side of a barren hill of considerable height. In theyear 1791, many of the trees in the plantation measured 4 ft. in girt, and contained from 4 in. to 6 in.of red wood. In Ireland, in 1794, Hayes mentions some Scotch pines, at Ballybeg and at Hillbrook,which measured 7ft. in girt at 5 ft. from the ground, and 5 ft. at 50 ft high. One felled in its 70thyear was 77| ft. in length of clear timber, and measured 6| ft. in girt at 50 ft. from the ground.(Pi-act. Treat., &c., p. 118.) At Tiny Park, Sir S. Smyth, Bart., was one 10 ft. round, containingnearly the same bulk for 25 ft. At Luttrelstown, Earl of Carhampton, one of 85 years’ growth fromthe seed was 11 ft. in girt; and another, of very great height, was 11 ft. 10 in., or nearly 4 ft. indiameter, which Hayes believed to exceed the dimensions of the largest foreign deal ever imported.These trees stood among oaks and other trees, on very high ground, though fiat at top for a con-siderable extent, and much exposed. At Emo Park, Earl of Portarlington, were several Scotchpines, with trunks from 8 ft. to 9 ft in girt, clear to the height of 20 ft or 30 ft., and large wildbranching heads, richly clothed with leaves. (Ibid.)

Existing Trees. In the Environs of London. At Muswcll Hill, it is 60 ft. high ; at Ham House,near Richmond, it is 70ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 4ft., and of the head 80 ft.; at Whitlonthere are many specimens, 100years planted, from 70 ft. to 80 ft high, with trunks from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in