Pine trees

The first pines grown in Madeira were stone pines (Pinus Pinea). Maritime pines (Pinus Pinaster) seem to have been introduced in the last quarter of the 18th century, and it is strange that a species so useful to man should have begun to be cultivated on the island only so late.

On 19 September 1807, it was reported at a session of the Municipal Council of Funchal that some moios (dry measure of grain, 60 alqueires) of pine nuts had been given from America, though the species to which they belonged was not stated. On 29 August 1812 the same body resolved to order four moios of pine seed of the best varieties from Portugal.

On 26 October 1821, the guild representative (mester) Severiano Ferraz proposed to the Council that 100 alqueires of maritime pine seed and 100 of stone pine seed be ordered for sowing on the island. On 15 March 1822 the same Council resolved to announce by public notice that it had one moio of maritime pine nuts to share out among the farmers, and that it was awaiting two moios of stone pine nuts for the same purpose. On 18 September 1823, notices were posted informing the public that a quantity of pine nuts had arrived in this city for distribution among the farmers.

On 12 January 1830, the treasurer of the municipality (concelho) was authorised to order two moios of pine nuts for sowing in suitable places. At its sessions of 17 January 1837 and 20 September 1839 the Council once again showed the interest it took in the afforestation of the municipality’s mountains and common lands (baldios).

During the administration of Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) José Silvestre Ribeiro, large quantities of pine seed came to Madeira, which he had distributed among the Municipal Councils (Câmaras Municipais) and rural landowners. It was from then on that the cultivation of the maritime pine began to expand greatly on the island. The cultivation of this species now covers an area which we suppose to be no less than 2,000 hectares, while that of the stone pine is today abandoned or almost abandoned (1921).

Maritime pines are generally felled at 12 to 15 years, but the slender stems of these trees are already put to use at 6 years as supports for bean plants, and at 8 for building trellises or covered walkways. Because pines are generally sown very close together, they need thinning after a few years, and the poles cut at that stage are sold to farmers for these purposes.

As far as we know, tapping for resin has never been practised in the archipelago, at least not for industrial purposes.

Pine seed is customarily sown from January to March. The last two months are preferred for sowing on high ground, so that the young pines are not damaged by the hail that often falls during the winter months. Many growers sow wheat, barley, rye or broom together with the pine seed. These shelter the young pines from the sun’s rays as well as from the wind, rain and hail, which can break them or tear them up by the roots.

Besides Pinus Pinaster, or maritime pine, and P. Pinea, or stone pine, Madeira also has Pinus halepensis and P. canariensis, the latter species having been introduced from Tenerife in 1837.

The maritime pine grows on Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’) on non-calcareous soils, while on the calcareous soils there Pinus halepensis is now cultivated with good results.