Pine tree cuttings and seeds

[Mickel]

Hi all,

On my parents farm there used to be 3 really old pine trees, 2 of which had trunks with the diameter of over 140cm's. To be honest I have never seen pine trees as large as those 2 in the whole of WA and would guess they would easily be over 100+ years perhaps even 150+. I remember them being impossible to get both arms around the branches even. Unfortunately, 1 of the pine tree's started to die from the top down until the whole tree was gone and the other a few years ago was severely burned in a bush fire and never recovered from it.

The third tree, which I believe was planted at the same time as the other's, must be a genetic mutation or has grown on top of a large rock stunting it. It is no where near the size of the other 2 and the pine needles themselves are a darker green in colour and a lot shorter and grow clumped together. It truly looks like a giant bonsai. The problem is that the tree itself has never produced pine cones, the other 2 did, so I would have to take cuttings.

I am curious to know if this is possible and how/when to go about it? I tried getting some chinese elm cuttings a few weeks ago but with the heat we have had in WA, I have had no success.

Also, we have quite a few other pine tree's which naturally grew wild from the original 2 tree's. I have harvested quite a few seeds and while not being directly from the original 2, they are their decendant's. If anyone is interested in some seeds I am happy to send them out to you. I am not sure on what species of pine they are though.

Thanks