A history of British forest-trees, indigenous and introduced

Preface

Whether a work upon the plan adopted by the Author of the following pages be calculated to prove useful, or to supply a deficiency in the list of those works relating to dendrology which we already possess, must be left to the opinion and decision of that public to which his volume is now respectfully submitted. In claiming its

- indulgence, and as some apology for the present attempt, he may, perhaps, be permitted to remark, that, of the various works which bear more or less directly upon the subject, the majority differ in their scope and character from the one which now solicits the patronage of the public. Most of these treatises are restricted in their design, and are confined to certain departments of dendrology, and operations connected with the general cul-

-Hure and management of Forest Trees, and do not enter upon the particular history, or any detailed account, of individual species. Of this description are the works of Pontey, Menteith, Nichol, Sang, Billington, and various

b

VI PREFACE.

others, in all of which the operations of planting, thinning, pruning, and nursery culture, constitute the permanent features, leaving the history of the species to which the above-mentioned operations are meant to refer but slightly touched upon, or forming a very secondary portion of their contents.

The classic " Sylva" of Evelyn, and the valuable "Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum,11 of Loudon, are, however, works to which the present volume approaches nearer in the general outline of its plan ; but as the former was written upwards of a century and a half ago, and at a time when several trees, now naturalized and extensively cultivated in Britain, were but little known or recently introduced ; and as the latter embraces a much wider field of investigation, besides being voluminous in size and costly in price, and consequently in a great measure confined to the libraries of the opulent, it did not appear to the Author that he was trenching upon ground, either so fully occupied or exhausted previously, as to render another work, (connected as it is with a subject of such importance as the growth and management of British timber,) altogether unnecessary and uncalled for.

His object, therefore, has been to give, in as concise a manner as seemed consistent with the nature of the subject, such an account of the various forest trees at present cultivated in Britain as might form a volume of informa-

PREFACE. Vll

tion interesting to the general reader, and at the same time, one useful, as a sort of manual, to the planter and those interested in arboriculture. With this view, in addition to the historical account of each species, the useful and ornamental properties of the various trees have been mentioned, and such observations made upon their culture, or upon what may be termed the scientific departments of dendrology, as seemed consistent with his own experience, and with that of many others engaged in similar pursuits. Under the denomination of British Forest Trees, it must be observed, are included not only those indigenous to the kingdom, but also such as have been introduced at periods more or less remote, and which since their introduction have been extensively propagated, either for the quality and value of the timber they produce, or for their ornamental properties, whether as individual objects, or in combination and grouped with other trees. It may, perhaps, be objected, that a few species not generally recognized as Forest trees, have been improperly admitted into the following work ; such as the Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparius), the Holly {Ilex aqiiifoliuni), and the White Thorn {Crataegus oxyacantha) ; to this the Author would venture to reply, that though aware of the secondary rank of these trees in point of dimensions, when compared with the greater denizens of the forest, he felt that the prominent station they occupy

l 2

Vlll PREFACE.

in the ornamental and picturesque department of our native Sylva was sufficient to compensate for this defect, and to entitle them to the situation in which they have been placed. Indeed, had he not been apprehensive of carrying the principle too far, he would have wished to have added others to the list, particularly the Bird-Cherry (Cerasus padus), one of our most ornamental flowering trees of inferior growth, and the Scotch or Alpine Laburnum (Cytisus laburnum var. alpinus), a variety attaining much larger dimensions than the common species, and which produces, in the opinion of Mr. Matthew, the author of a valuable treatise on Naval Timber, wood of greater value than any other British tree.

In speaking of the various important operations connected with the management of timber, the Author may remark, that he does so with the experience of nearly forty years, during which period he has not only been a planter to some extent, but has also devoted much time and attention to the culture of his trees ; his observations, therefore, may be considered the result of practical and oftrenewed investigation, conducted, so far as he was able, in accordance with the principles of vegetable physiology. It will not, therefore, much surprise his readers, that he should differ from Pontey and his followers, in regard to the pruning of forest trees, seeing that the denuding system of that writer is directly opposed to such principles,

PREFACE. IX

and that so far from contributing to promote a more rapid increase or a greater deposition of the woody fibre, it tends, on the contrary, to check materially the growth and vigour of the tree to which it is applied. Even the system of shortening in, or curtailment of the lateral branches, a mode of pruning now very generally adopted, though far preferable to the other, and when judiciously used frequently of decided advantage, may easily be carried to excess, as the author has seen in repeated instances. In short it is seldom that trees planted in mass, or within a short distance of each other, require aid or assistance from the pruning knife, or are even benefited by the abscission of their lateral branches — the difficulty, on the contrary, is to induce trees so situated, to retain these necessary and efficient members in requisite numbers, and for a sufficient length of time to ensure a healthy and vigorous growth and a rapid deposition of the woody fibre. One of the most efficient modes of producing such an effect, is the timely application of another important operation, viz., that of thinning, the advantage of which, when properly administered, the Author has endeavoured to impress upon his readers in various parts of his work.

With respect to the planting of forest trees, he would briefly remark, that he is not an advocate for the trenching of the ground previous to that operation, being con-

X PREFACE.

vinced from personal observation and experience, that no adequate or remunerating advantage, either by a more rapid growth of the tree or an improvement in the quality of the timber is obtained, sufficient to compensate for the great additional expense incurred, without taking into account the difficulty in adopting it in many districts well adapted to the rearing of wood, or where plantations are made upon that extensive scale, now so prevalent throughout the kingdom. In regard to the statistics of the various trees described, the Author has been obliged, from the restricted extent of his volume, to confine his remarks within narrow limits ; this he cannot but regret, as he is aware the omission must prove a disappointment to many of his readers ; it is, however, satisfactory to be able to refer them to so able a work as the " Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum,1' in which the statistical information respecting its various contents are generally full and satisfactory ; Lauder's edition of " Gilpin's Forest Scenery" also contains much interesting information of this kind, respecting the various trees noticed and enumerated in the pages of that delightful work.

The Wood Cuts, illustrative of the trees, have in most instances been executed from drawings of specimens that appeared to convey a correct idea of the usual growth and appearance of the species, as this was thought of more importance and better suited to the intention of the work

PREFACE. XI

than the selection of portraits of remarkable trees, which, though they might have added to the beauty, would have failed in conveying that impress of truth and fidelity which it was the object of the Author to stamp upon the delineations. In regard to their execution, he scarcely anticipates a single objection ; and he trusts, that whatever may be the decision of the public as to the written contents of the volume, its meed of praise and approval will be liberally bestowed upon the artist who has succeeded so successfully in embellishing its pages.

GENERAL INDEX.

PREFACE, 5.

THE LIME.

I.European Lime, 1 to 11.

Uses of the wood, 6 — 8.

Mode of propagation, 8.

Soil, 8.

Insects which live upon it, 9.

Varieties, 9.

Tilia Europea micropliylla, „ platyphylla,

„ laciniata.

2. American Lime, 11 — 13.

Synonymes, 11.

Leaves, flowers, and wood, 12.

Variety, 13.

Tilia Americana lieteropliylla.

THE MAPLE.

1. Sycamore, or Great Maple,

14—22.

Synonymes and specific characters, 14.

Picturesque character, 15.

Geographical distribution, 16.

Uses of the wood and sap, 17, 18.

Soil, 19.

Insects which live upon it, 19.

Mode of propagation, 20, 21.

Varieties, 21.

Acer psewlo-platanusflavo-variegata, „ variegata,

„ purple-leaved.

Statistics, 22.

2. Norway Maple, 23—26.

Synonjnnes, 23.

Advantages of this variety, 24.

Foliage, flowers, and method of

propagation, 25.

3. Acer Macrophyllum, 25, 26.

4. Field Maple, 27—30.

Synonymes, 27.

Character and distribution, 28.

Uses of the wood, 29.

Propagation, 29.

Specific characters, 30.

THE HORSE CHESNUT, 31—36.

Synonymes, 31.

History of its introduction, 32.

Picturesque character, 33.

Uses of the wood, bark, and

nuts, 33, 34.

Soil and propagation, 34, 35.

Varieties, 36. double-jloivered, variegated, jEsculus Rubicunda.

THE HOLLY, 37—47.

Synonymes, 37.

Geographical distribution, 38, 39.

Picturesque character and uses,

Propagation, 43 — 45.

Uses of the wood and bark, 45, 46.

Varieties.

Ilex aquifolium albo-marginatiim,

„ aureo-marginatum.

Protection from hares and rabbits necessary, 47.

THE FALSE ACACIA, 48—57.

SynonjTnes, 48.

Useless as a timber tree, 49 — 53.

Character of foliage, 53.

Soil, 54.

Propagation, 54, 55.

Geographical distribution and uses,

55, 56.

Statistics, 56.

Varieties, 57.

Robinia pseud- Acacia umbracidifera, ,, pendula,

,, spec/abilis,

,, striata.

THE WILD CHERRY, 58—66.

Synonymes, 58.

Recommended as a timber tree,

58—63.

As an ornamental tree, 63.

Uses of the fruit, 64.

Insects which frequent it, 65.

Propagation and statistics, 65, 66.

XIV

GENERAL INDEX.

THE WHITE THORN, 67—75.

Synonymes, 67.

May be ranked as a forest-tree,

68, 69.

Picturesque character, 69.

Uses, 70—72.

Propagation, 72, 73.

Varieties.

„ multiplex,

„ prcecox.

Geographical distribution, 74.

Insects which frequent it, 75.

THE MOUNTAIN ASH, 76—83.

Synonymes, 76.

Picturesque character, 77.

Uses, 78, 79.

Propagation, 80.

Other indigenous species, 81.

Pyrus aria, „ torminalis.

THE COMMON ASH, 84—101.

Synonymes, 84.

Statistics, 85, 86.

Picturesque character, 87 — 89.

Necessity of thinning plantations,

89—92.

Advantage of the Ash in hedgerows, 93, 94.

Uses of the wood, 94 — 97.

Soil, 97, 98.

Insects which feed upon it, 98 —

100.

Propagation, 100.

Varieties and species, 101.

Fraxinus excelsior pendula,

„ Americamis,

„ Omits.

THE ELM.

General remarks on the genus, 102, 103. 1. English Elm, 104—116.

Synonymes, 104.

Mode of growth, and specific characters, 105, 106.

Geographical distribution, 106 —

108.

Picturesque character, 108 — 110.

Propagation, 111 — 113.

Uses of the wood, 113, 114.

Insects which live upon it, 114, 115.

Varieties, 116.

Ulmus campcstris vulgaris, „ alba,

„ acutifolia,

„ virens,

Ulmus campestris comubiensis, „ betulefolia, „ foliis variegatis, „ viminalis.

2. Cork-barked Elm, 117—123.

Synonymes, 117.

Distinguishing features, 118,

120.

Soil and uses, 120, 121.

Varieties, 122, 123.

Ulmus suberosa alba,

„ foliis variegatis,

„ erecta,

Broad and narrow-leaved Hertfordshire Elms, Ulmus major.

Synonymes, 124.

Geographical distribution, 125.

Distinguishing characters, 126.

Picturesque characters, 126 — 128.

Soil and situation, 129 — 131.

Uses of the wood, 131.

Propagation, 132.

Varieties, 133.

Ulmus montana pendula, „ fastigiata.

4. Smooth-leaved Scotch Elm,

134—138.

Synonymes, 134.

Distinguishing characters, 135.

Varieties, 136—138.

Ulmus montana vegeta, Huntingdon, or Chichester Elm ; „ glabra major, Canterburyseedling ; Scampston Elm.

THE WALNUT.

Synonymes, 139 — 149.

Uses of the wood, 140 — 142.

„ fruit, 143.

Geographical distribution, 144.

Picturesque character, 145.

Propagation, 145 — 149.

Soil and management, 147.

Specific characters, 148.

Varieties, 149.

Juglans regia maxima,

„ serotina,

„ tenera.

THE WILLOW.

General remarks on the genus,

150.

Generic characters, 151. 1 . Crack, or Red-wood, Willow, 152—155.

Synonymes, 152.

GENERAL INDEX.

XV

Uses of the wood, 153.

Insects which live upon it, 155.

2. Russell, or Duke of Bed-

ford's, Willow, 156 — 159.

Synonymes and specific characters,

157.

Uses of the wood, 158. bark, 159.

3. White Willow, 160—166.

Sjmonymes and specific characters,

160.

Picturesque character, 161.

Soil and propagation, 162, 163.

Uses of the wood and bark, 164.

Geographical distribution, 165.

Insects and birds which feed on

4. Large-Leaved Sallow, 167

167.

Picturesque character, 168, 169.

Soil and associations, 169.

Uses of the wood, 170.

Insects which feed upon it, 170,

THE POPLAR.

Remarks on the genus, 173, 174.

I.Grey Poplar, 175—180.

S3Tionymes and distinguishing

characters, 175, 176.

Picturesque character, 1 77, 1 78.

Propagation, 179.

Uses of the wood, 180.

Insects which feed upon it, 181.

Specific characters and soil, 182.

Geographical distribution and character, 182.

Varieties, 182, 183.

Popuhis acerifolia, „ tomentosa.

3. Aspen, 184—189.

Synonymes and specific characters,

184.

Picturesque character, 185.

Geographical distribution, 186.

Uses of the wood, bark, &c, 187.

Soil, 1 87.

Propagation, 188.

Insects living upon it, 189.

4. Athenl\n Poplar, 190 — 193.

Origin of the name, 191.

Description of the tree, 192.

Propagation, 192.

Insects which frequent it, 193.

Specific characters, 1 93.

5. Black Poplar, 194—197.

Synonymes and specific characters,

Uses of the wood and bark, 196.

Description of the tree, 195, 196.

Insects and propagation, 197.

6. Black Italian Poplar, 198 —

198, 199.

Obscurity of its origin, 1 99, 200.

Character of the tree and soil,

200, 201.

Uses of the wood, 201.

Ornamental qualities, 202.

Insects which feed upon it, 202.

Propagation, 202, 203.

Large tree near Kelso, 203.

7. Lombardy Poplar, 204 — 209.

Synonymes, 204.

Description of the tree, 205.

Its origin, 206.

Uses of the wood, 207.

Ornamental character, 208.

Propagation and specific character, 209.

8. Balsam Poplar, 210—214.

Synonymes, 210.

Geographical distribution, 211.

Description of the tree and wood,

212.

Insects which eat it, 213.

9. Ontario Poplar, 213, 214.

Soil and geographical range, 216.

Not to be planted on wet land, 218, 219.

Uses of the wood, 219, 220.

Propagation, 221.

Insects which live upon it, 222.

Variety, 223, 224.

Alnus glutinosa kcci?iiata, or Cut-leaved Alder.

228.

The Weeping variety, 228.

Value as a nurse to the oak, 229

—231.

Picturesque character, 231, 232.

Uses of the wood and bark, 232

GENERAL INDEX.

Propagation, 234, 235.

Insects which feed upon it, 236.

Species, 237.

Betula populifolia,

„ papyracea,

„ nigra,

„ lenta.

THE OAK.

General remarks on the genus, 238—240.

Two supposed species of English Oaks, 241, 242.

I.Peduncled, or Common Oak, 243—245.

Synonymes and botanical characters, 243.

Remarks on this supposed species, 244, 245.

251.

Synonymes and botanical characters, 246.

Growth and appearance, contrasted with those of the Common

Oak, 247, 248.

Qualities of the wood, 248— 251.

Oak woods formerly covered a

large portion of England, 251,

252.

Particulars of the size, &c, of some

Oaks, 253—257.

Ancient uses of the Oak, 257 —

259.

Decrease of the ancient forests,

259, 260.

Advantages of planting Oak, 260

— 263.

Soil and draining, 263 — 265.

Propagation and planting, 265 —

269.

Of trenching the ground before

planting, 269—271.

Trees proper to be mixed with

Oak, 272—275.

Management of Oak plantations,

275—282.

Picturesque character, 283 — 285.

Insects which feed on the Oak.

285—288.

289 -297.

Recommended for more general cultivation, 290, 291.

Quality of the wood, 293, 294.

Geographical range and propagation, 294, 295.

Varieties, 295—297- Quercus cirris pendula, „ A ustriaca,

„ cana major,

„ „ minor,

„ Fulham,

„ Luconibe.

Synonymes, 298.

Geographical range and cultivation in Britain, 299 — 301.

Soil and propagation, 301, 302.

Description of the foliage, wood, &c, 302—304.

Quality and uses of the wood, 312—316.

Propagation and culture, 316 — 318.

Varieties, 318, 319.

Far/us sylvatica purpurea.

Insects which feed on it, 320.

Fungi, 320.

THE SWEET CHESNUT, 321— 336.

Synonymes and specific characters, 321, 322.

Description of the tree, 322—324.

Character of the wood, 324—330.

Soil, 330.

Ornamental character, 331.

Propagation, 332.

Insects which feed on it, 333.

Varieties, 333.

Statistics, 324 — 326.

THE HORNBEAM, 337—345.

Synonymes and specific characters, 337, 338.

Description of the tree, 338, 339.

Geographical distribution, 340.

Uses of the tree, 341—343.

„ wood, 343.

Soil and propagation, 344.

Insects which feed on it, 344.

THE PLANE.

1. Oriental Plane, 346 — 353.

Synonymes and specific characters, 346.

GENERAL INDEX.

xvu

Wood, soil, and propagation, 352, 353. 2. Western Plane, 354 — 360.

Geographical distribution and soil, 356—358.

Picturesque character and wood, 358.

Propagation, 359.

Statistics, 360.

Synonymes and specific characters, 361, 362.

Description of the tree, 362, 363.

Geographical distribution, 364.

Uses of the tree, 364 — 370.

„ wood, 370 — 373.

Leaves and berries, 373, 374.

Statistics, 374 — 381.

Propagation, 381, 382.

Varieties, 383, 384.

„ foliis variegatis.

THE PINE TRIBE.

General remarks on the tribe, 385 —394.

THE SCOTCH PINE, 395—436.

Synonymes and specific characters, 395, 396.

Inflorescence, 397.

Geographical distribution, 399,

400.

Ancient forests in Scotland, 400

—405.

Quality and uses of the wood,

405—412.

Uses of the resin, bark, &c, 412

—414.

Picturesque character, 414 — 416.

Propagation and management, 416

Insects which feed upon it, 422 —424.

Varieties, 424—427.

Pinus sylvostris vulgaris.

Its inferior quality, 425.

„ Jiorizonkdis,

„ cuminata,

„ Haguenensis.

Allied species.

Pinus Uncinata.

Its hardy nature, 428.

Corsican Pine, 429, 430.

Pinus Pallasiana, 430, 431.

Pinus Austriaca, 431 — 433, On herbaceous grafting, 433 —

435.

Pinus Peyrenaica, or Hispa-

THE PINASTER, 437—443.

Synonymes, 437.

Bears the sea air, 438.

Soil adapted for it, 438—440.

Unfit for mixed plantations, 440.

Geographical distribution, 440.

Description of the tree, leaves, &c,

441.

Specimens growing in England,

Pinus pinaster Lemonianus.

The Stone Pine too tender for our

climate, 443.

THE WEYMOUTH PINE, 444—

459.

Synonymes, 444.

Introduction into England, 445.

Inferior quality of the wood, 446.

Injurious effects of the timber

duties, 446, 447.

Its native habitat, and uses in

America, 447, 448.

Picturesque character, 448, 449.

Specific characters, 449.

THE CEMBRAN PINE, 449, 453.

Geographical distribution and quality of the wood, 450.

Recommended for cultivation in

mountainous parts, 451.

Description of the tree, 452.

Allied species, 453.

Pinus excelsa, „ Lambertina.

THE SPRUCE FIR, 454—470.

454, 455.

Description of the tree, 455 — 457.

Geographical distribution and soil,

457 — 459.

Uses of the tree, 459 — 461.

Picturesque character, 461, 462.

Uses of the wood, bark, &c, 462

—464.

Propagation, 464.

Aphis which infests it, 465.

GENERAL INDEX.

Species.

Abies alba, AG 6. „ nigra, 466. „ Canadensis, 467. „ Douglasii, 467 — 470. „ Cephalonica, 470.

Synonymes and generic characters,

474.

Geographical distribution, 474.

Uses of the wood, 475.

Picturesque character and soil,

475, 476.

Ravages of an insect, 476 — 479.

Fine specimens in England, 480.

Propagation, 481.

Other species.

Picea balsaminea, Pinus amabilis,

„ nobilis,

„ Webbiana,

„ Pindroiv.

Synonymes, 483.

Remarks on the Genus Larix, 484.

Geographical distribution and soil, 484,485.

Rate of growth of Larches in England and Scotland, 487, 488.

Properties of its timber known to the Romans, 488,

History of its introduction into Britain, and particularly of the Athol plantations, 489 — 494.

Proportion of Larch to be planted per acre, 494 — 496.

Uses of the wood, resin, bark, &c, 496—505.

Soil proper for Larch, 505 — 508.

Planting and subsequent management, 508—513.

Diseases ; heart-rot and canker, 513—515.

Insects which infest the Larch, 515,516.

Propagation, 517.

Dimensions of some Larches, 519.

THE CEDAR OF LEBANON, 520, 525.

Geographical distribution, and notice of the remains of the forest of Lebanon, 523—529.

Introduction into England, 529 — 531.

Deserves trial as a timber tree, 531—533.

Quality of the wood, 533—535.

Soil aud propagation, 536 — 538.

Size attained by Cedars in England, 538.

Cedrus deodara, 539, 540.