Mike Lyle wrote:


Roger wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 19:05:57 +0100, John McMillan
wrote:

In article ,
Roger wrote:

On 17 Oct 2006 07:01:35 -0700, "Mike Lyle"
wrote:

One of my books says the maritime pine grows, as an
introduction, in the Highlands; but none says anything about its
failing to fruit there.

Maybe I shouldn't admit to this but what can they do to me now?
I harvested only the biggest seeds from the cones, about 200 of them.
Over a period of 4 years I planted them out in individual plant pots
around about 20 to 30 at a time, depending on what I had left over
from the previous year (small plant pots). I planted out the following
year in remote inaccessible places all over Scotland in groups of 3, 5
sometimes 1. Most of the ones I have re-visited are growing well. Some
I planted on land just behind the sea shore. All of the sites are
remote well away from paths and roads. I would like to see at least
one fruit before the Grim Reaper decides to harvest me.

I'll certainly visit the gardens mentioned. I still do a lot of
walking and visiting.

Thanks.

Roger.

Its delightful to see someone spending time and effort on deliberately
contaminating our wild flora, though I have a suspicion that humans have
been doing this sort of thing sporadically for centuries anyway.

Why is the Norfolk coast solid with Holm Oaks? Why does
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) grow on Spurn head and
in the Lincolnshire coast and also the mountainous regions of China and
Russia?

Any chance of doing the same with Wollemi pine?

I was and still am amazed at the size of the cones. I visited that
particular forest when they were still collecting the resin. I must
admit I have a personal investment in spreading that particular pine.
The locals did a spirit based drink for congestion, colds, flu and any
other excuse you can name. It tasted like delux Drambuie only more
aromatic. It cleared more than your tubes. Grown on its own it's a
beautiful tree. I like it.


Roger, you're a hooligan. I'm authorised by the Prime Minister to tell
you: remove that hoodie at once!

I can't see it doing any harm, unless two hundred years down the line
it turns out to be the new Rhododendron ponticum -- which, frankly,
seems wildly unlikely to me.

I can very well see this doing harm.

Unfortunately it is more than likely because it has done just that in other
places.




Future generations of sufferers may
instead have cause to thank you. Do you know the name of the appetizing
medicine? I'm always up for trying a new herbal compound.

I wonder how many people curse the plonker who introduced Japanese Knotweed.



I'm sure you and John are wealthy enough to spread Wollemi pines around
the banks and braes. (I wonder what that tastes like?)



Neil Jones
http://www.butterflyguy.com/