the Pine-tree; a genus of the monocotyledonous order, belonging to the coniferae class of plants. The pine-tree was well known to the ancients, and has been described and celebrated both by their philosophers and poets. Pliny enumerates no less than five species of trees of this genus; and it is mentioned by Virgil both in his Eclogues, his Georgics, and his Aeneid; by Horace in his Odes; by Ovid in his Metamorphoses; by Statius; and by Catullus, &c. Macrobius relates a pleasant anecdote concerning the cones of of pine-trees, which in common language were called poma pinea, "pine-apples." There lived in the Augustan age one Vatinius, who by some means had irritated the Roman people so much that they pelled him with stones. When he entertained them with gladiators, to save himself from such treatment for the future, he procured an edict from the ediles, that no person should throw any thing but apples in the amphitheatre. It accidentally happened that at this time Cassellius, eminent for his wit as well as knowledge of the law, was consulted on the question, whether a pineapple (the cone of the pine) was legally included in the term pomum, "an apple?" It is an apple (said he) if you intend to fling it at Vatinius*. A decision by which the edict in his favour did not much mend his situation: for Martial reprehends it dangerous to come under this tree, because the cones in his time were of so great a size and weight, probably enlarged by cultivation for ages.

Nuces Pinea.

Poma fumus Cybeles: procul hinc discedi, viator, Ne cadat in miserum nefra ruina capit †.

There are generally reckoned 14 species of this genus; of which the most remarkable are these following:

1. The pinus pinaster, or wild pine, grows naturally on the mountains in Italy and the south of France. It grows to the size of a large tree; the branches extend to a considerable distance; and while the trees are young, they are fully garnished with leaves, especially where they are not so close as to exclude the air from those within; but as they advance in age, the branches appear naked, and all those which are situated below become unfightly in a few years; for which reason they are now much less in esteem than formerly.

2. The pinus pinea, or stone pine, is a tall evergreen tree, native of Italy and Spain. It delights in a sandy loam, though like most others it will grow well in almost any land. Respecting the uses of this species, Hanbury tells us that "the kernels are eatable, and by many preferred to almonds. In Italy they are served up at table in their deserts. They are exceeding wholesome, being good for coughs, colds, consumptions, &c. on which account only this tree deserves to be propagated." Hanbury continues: "It may be very proper here to take notice of a very great and dangerous mistake Mr Miller has committed, by saying, under this article of stone-pine, that seeds kept in the cones will be good and grow if they are sown ten or twelve years after the cones have been gathered from the trees; whereas the seeds of this sort, whether kept in the cones or taken out, are never good after the first year; and though sometimes a few plants will come up from the seeds that are kept in the cones for two years before, yet this is but seldom; neither must a tenth part of a crop be expected. This caution is the more necessary, as several gentlemen who had cones, upon reading Mr Miller's book, and finding the seeds would take no damage when kept there, deferred the work for a season or two, when they thought they should have more conveniency either of men or ground for their purpose; and were afterwards wholly disappointed, no plants appearing, the seeds being by that time spoiled and worth nothing."

Vol. XIV. Part II.

3. The rubra, commonly called the Scots fir or pine. It is common throughout Scotland, whence its name; though it is also found in most of the other countries of Europe. M. du Hamel, of the Royal Academy of Sciences, mentions his having received some seeds of it from St Domingo in the West Indies; and thence concludes, that it grows indifferently in the temperate, frigid, and torrid zones. The wood of this tree is the red or yellow deal, which is the most durable of any of the kinds yet known. The leaves of this tree are much shorter and broader than those of the former sort, of a greyish colour, growing two out of one sheath; the cones are small, pyramidal, and end in narrow points; they are of a light colour, and the seeds are small.

4. The pinus picea, or yew-leaved fir, is a tall evergreen and a native of Scotland, Sweden, and Germany. This species includes the silver fir and the balm of Gilead fir. The first of these is a noble upright tree. Mr Marsham says, "The tallest trees I have seen were spruce and silver firs in the valleys in Switzerland. I saw several firs in the dockyards in Venice 40 yards long; and one of 39 yards was 18 inches diameter at the smallest end. I was told they came from Switzerland."

The branches are not very numerous, and the bark is smooth and delicate. The leaves grow singly on the branches, and their ends are slightly indented. Their upper surface is of a fine strong green colour, and their undersides have an ornament of two white lines running lengthwise on each side the midrib; on account of which silvery look this sort is called the silver fir. The cones are large, and grow erect; and, when the warm weather comes on, they soon shed their seeds; which should be a caution to all who wish to raise this plant, to gather the cones before that happens.

The balm of Gilead fir has of all the sorts been most coveted, on account of the great fragrance of its leaves; though this is not its only good property: for it is a very beautiful tree, naturally of an upright growth, and the branches are so ornamented with their balmy leaves, as to exceed any of the other sorts in beauty. The leaves, which are very closely set on the branches, are broad; and their ends are indented. Their upper surface, when healthy, is of a fine dark-green colour, and their undersides have white lines on each side the midrib lengthwise, nearly like those of the silver fir. These leaves when bruised are very finely scented; and the buds, which swell in the autumn for the next year's shoot, are very ornamental all winter, being turgid, and of a fine brown colour; and from these also exudes a kind of fine turpentine, of the same kind of (though heightened) fragrancy. The tree being wounded in any part, emits plenty of this turpentine; and Hanbury says, "it is supposed by many to be the root from whence the balm of Gilead is taken, which occasions this tree being so called. But this is a mistake; for the true balm of Gilead is taken from a kind of terebinthus; though I am informed, that what has been collected from this tree has been sent over to England from America (where it grows naturally), and often sold in the shops for the true root."

The silver fir is very hardy, and will grow in any soil or situation, but always makes the greatest progress in rich loamy earth. The balm of Gilead fir must be planted in deep, rich, good earth; nor will it live long. Pinus, in any other. The soil may be a black mould, or of a sandy nature, if it be deep enough, and if the roots have room enough to strike freely.

5. The *pinus abies*, or European spruce fir, a native of the northern parts of Europe and of Asia, includes the Norway spruce and long-coned Cornish fir. The former of these is a tree of as much beauty while growing as its timber is valuable when propagated on that account. Its growth is naturally like the silver, upright; and the height it will aspire to may be easily conceived, when we say that the white deal, so much coveted by the joiners, &c., is the wood of this tree; and it may perhaps satisfy the curious reader to know, that from this fir pitch is drawn. The leaves are of a dark green colour; they stand singly on the branches, but the younger shoots are very closely garnished with them. They are very narrow; their ends are pointed; and they are possessed of such beauties as to excite admiration. The cones are eight or ten inches long, and hang downwards.

The better the soil is, the faster will the spruce fir grow; though it will thrive very well in most of our English lands. In strong loamy earth it makes a surprising progress; and it delights in fresh land of all sorts, which never has been worn out by ploughing, &c., though it be ever so poor. The long-coned Cornish fir differs scarcely in any respect from the Norway spruce, except that the leaves and the cones are larger.

6. The *pinus Canadensis*, American or Newfoundland spruce fir, a native of Canada, Pennsylvania, and other parts of North America, includes three varieties. The white Newfoundland spruce, the red Newfoundland spruce, and the black Newfoundland spruce. These, however, differ so little, that one description is common to them all. They are of a gentle upright growth, though they do not shoot so freely or grow so fast with us as the Norway spruce. The leaves are of the same green, and garnish the branches in the same beautiful manner as those of that species; only they are narrower, shorter, and stand closer. The greatest difference is observable in the cones; for these are no more than about an inch in length, and the scales are closely placed. In the cones, indeed, consists the difference of these three sorts: those of the white species are of a very light brown colour; those of the red species more of a nut brown or reddish colour; and those of the black species of a dark or blackish colour. Besides this, there is scarcely any material difference; though it is observable, that this trifling variation seems to be pretty constant in the plants raised from the like seeds. These sorts will often flower, and produce cones when only about five or six feet high; and indeed look then very beautiful: but this is a sign of weakness in the plant, which it does not often fairly get over.

7. The *pinus balsamea*, or hemlock fir, a native of Virginia and Canada, possesses as little beauty as any of the fir tribe; though, being rather scarce in proportion, it is deemed valuable. It is called by some the *yew-leaved fir*, from the resemblance of the leaves to those of the yew tree. It is a tree of low growth, with but few branches; and these are long and slender, and spread abroad without order. The leaves do not garnish the branches so plentifully as those of any other sort of fir. The cones are very small and rounded; they are about half an inch long; and the scales are loosely arranged. We receive these cones from America, by which we raise the plants; though this caution should be given to the planter, that this tree is fond of moist rich ground, and in such a kind of soil will make the greatest progress.

8. The *pinus orientalis*, or oriental fir, a native of the East, is a low but elegant tree. The leaves are very short, and nearly square. The fruit is exceedingly small, and hangs downward; and the whole tree makes an agreeable variety with the other kinds.

9. The *strobilus*, Lord Weymouth's pine, or North American white pine. This grows sometimes to the height of 100 feet and upwards, and is highly valued on account of its beauty. The bark of the tree is very smooth and delicate, especially when young; the leaves are long and slender, five growing out of one sheath; the branches are pretty closely garnished with them, and thus make a fine appearance. The cones are long, slender, and very loose, opening with the first warmth of the spring; so that if they are not gathered in winter, the scales open and let out the seeds. The wood of this sort is esteemed for making masts for ships. In Queen Anne's time there was a law made for the preservation of these trees, and for the encouragement of their growth in America. Within these last 50 years they have been propagated in Britain in considerable plenty.

With respect to the culture of this species, Mr Hambury, after some more general directions, continues thus: "I have known gentlemen, who, in attempting to raise these trees, have seen the young plants go off without perceiving the cause; and the more watering and pains they have taken, have found the plants persist in this way more and more, to their great mortification and astonishment. In the spring following these plants should be pricked out in beds half a foot asunder each way; and here they may stand two years, when they may be either finally planted out, or removed into the nursery, at the distance of one foot asunder, and two feet in the rows. If care has been taken of them in the nursery, they may be removed at a considerable height with great assurance of success: for it is much easier to make this pine grow than any of the other sorts: so that where they are wanted for ornament in parks, open places, &c., a show of them may be made in a little time.

"The soil the Weymouth pine delights in most is a sandy loam; but it likes other soils of an inferior nature; and although it is not generally to be planted on all lands like the Scotch fir, yet I have seen it luxuriant and healthy, making strong shoots, on blue and red clays, and other sorts of strong ground. On stony and flat ground, likewise, I have seen some very fine trees; so that I believe whoever is desirous of having plantations of this pine, need not be curious in the choice of his ground."

10. The *pinus taeda*, or swamp-pine, is a tall evergreen tree, a native of the swamps of Virginia and Canada. There are several varieties of this genus which Hambury enumerates and describes: such as, 1st, The three-leaved American swamp-pine; 2d, The two-leaved American pine; 3d, The yellow American pine, the yellow tough pine, and the tough pine of the plains; among There are many (continues our author) other sorts of American pines, which we receive from thence with the like cant names of those of the above, which I have chosen to retain, as they will probably be continued to be sent over; and that the gardener receiving them as such may best know what to do with them. In many of these sorts I see at present no material difference; so am induced to think they are the same, sent over with different names. Some of the sorts above-mentioned differ in very few respects; but I have chosen to mention them, as a person may be supplied with the seeds from Pennsylvania, Jersey, Virginia, Carolina, &c. where they all grow naturally; and having once obtained the seeds, and from them plants, they will become pleasing objects of his nicest observations.

11. The pinus cedrus, ranked by Tournefort and others under larix, famous for its duration, is that popularly called by us the cedar of Lebanon, by the ancients cedrus magna or the great cedar; also cedrela, cedrela magna; and sometimes the Phoenician or Syrian cedar, from the country where it grows in its greatest perfection. It is a coniferous evergreen, of the bigger sort, bearing large roundish cones of smooth scales, standing erect, the leaves being small, narrow, and thick set.—They sometimes counterfeit cedar, by dying wood of a reddish hue: but the smell discovers the cheat, that of true cedar being very aromatic. In some places, the wood of the cajou-tree passes under the name of cedar, on account of its reddish colour and its aromatic smell, which somewhat resemble that of sandal. Cedar-wood is reputed almost immortal and incorruptible; a prerogative which it owes chiefly to its bitter taste, which the worms cannot endure. For this reason it was that the ancients used cedar tablets to write upon, especially for things of importance, as appears from that expression of Persius, *Et cedra digna locutus.* A juice was also drawn from cedar, with which they smeared their books and writings, or other matters, to preserve them from rotting; which is alluded to by Horace: by means of which it was, that Numa's books, written on papyrus, were preserved entire to the year 537, as we are informed by Pliny.

Solomon's temple, as well as his palace, were both of this wood. That prince gave king Hiram several cities for the cedars he had furnished him on these occasions. Cortes is said to have erected a palace at Mexico, in which were 7000 beams of cedar, most of them 120 feet long, and twelve in circumference, as we are informed by Herrera. Some tell us of a cedar felled in Cyprus 130 feet long, and 18 in diameter. It was used for the mainmast in the galley of king Demetrius. Le Bruyn affirms us, that the two biggest he saw on mount Lebanon, measured, one of them 57 palms, and the other 47, in circumference. In the temple of Apollo at Utica, there were cedar trees near 2000 years old; which yet were nothing to that beam in an oratory of Diana at Seguntum in Spain, said to have been brought thither 200 years before the destruction of Troy. Cedar is of so dry a nature, that it will not endure to be fastened with iron nails, from which it usually shrinks; so that they commonly fasten it with pins of the same wood.

"The statue (says Hanbury) of the great goddess at Ephesus was made of this material; and, if this tree abounded with us in great plenty, it might have a principal share in our most superb edifices. The effluvia constantly emitted from its wood are said to purify the air, and make rooms wholesome. Chapels and places set apart for religious duties, being wainscotted with this wood, inspire the worshippers with a more solemn awe. It is not obnoxious to worms; and emits an oil which will preserve cloth or books from worms or corruption. The sawdust will preserve human bodies from putrefaction; and is therefore said to be plentifully used in the rites of embalming, where practised."

It is remarkable that this tree is not to be found as a native in any other part of the world than mount Libanus, as far as hath yet been discovered. What we find mentioned in Scripture of the lofty cedars has nowise applicable to the common growth of this tree; since, from the experience we have of those now growing in England, as also from the testimony of several travellers who have visited those few remaining trees on mount Libanus, they are not inclined to grow very lofty, but on the contrary extend their branches very far; to which the allusion made by the Psalmist agrees very well, when he is describing the flourishing state of a people, and says, "They shall spread their branches like the cedar-tree."

Rauwolf, in his Travels, says, there were not at that time (i.e. anno 1574) upon mount Libanus more than 26 trees remaining, 24 of which stood in a circle; and the other two, which stood at a small distance, had their branches almost consumed with age; nor could he find any younger tree coming up to succeed them, though he looked about diligently for some. These trees (he says) were growing at the foot of a small hill, on the top of the mountains, and amongst the snow. These having very large branches, commonly bend the tree to one side, but are extended to a great length, and in so delicate and pleasant order, as if they were trimmed and made even with great diligence, by which they are easily distinguished, at a great distance, from fir-trees. The leaves (continues he) are very like to those of the larch tree, growing close together in little branches upon small brown shoots.

Maundrel, in his Travels, says, there were but 16 large trees remaining when he visited the mountain, some of which were of a prodigious bulk, but that there were many more young ones of a smaller size: he measured one of the largest, and found it to be 12 yards six inches in girth, and yet found, and 37 yards in the spread of its boughs. At about five or six yards from the ground it was divided into five limbs, each of which was equal to a great tree. What Maundrel hath related was confirmed by a gentleman who was there in the year 1720, with this difference only, viz. in the dimensions of the branches of the largest tree, which he measured, and found to be 22 yards diameter. Now, whether Mr Maundrel meant 37 yards in circumference of the spreading branches, or the diameter of them, cannot be determined by his words. words; yet either of them well agrees with this last account.

12. There is another species, viz. the larch-tree, which the old botanists ranked under larix, with deciduous leaves, and oval obtuse cones. It grows naturally upon the Alps and Apennines, and of late has been very much propagated in Britain. It is of quick growth, and the trunk rises to 50 feet or more; the branches are slender, their ends generally hanging downward, and are garnished with long narrow leaves which arise in clusters from one point, spreading open above like the hairs of a painter's brush: they are of a light green, and fall away in autumn. In the month of April the male flowers appear, which are disposed in form of small cones; the female flowers are collected into oval obtuse cones, which in some species have bright purple tops, and in others they are white: these differences are accidental; the cones are about an inch long, obtuse at their points; the scales are smooth, and lie over each other; under each scale there are generally lodged two seeds, which have wings. There are other two varieties of this tree, one of which is a native of America, and the other of Siberia. The cones of the American kind which have been brought to Britain seem in general to be larger than those of the common sort.

"Many encomiums (says Hanbury when speaking of this species) have been bestowed on the timber of the larch: and we find such a favourable account of it in ancient authors, as should induce us to think it would be proper for almost any use. Evelyn recites a story of Witten, a Dutch writer, that a ship built of this timber and cypress had been found in the Numidian sea, twelve fathoms under water, sound and entire, and reduced to such a hardness as to resist the sharpest tool, after it had lain submerged above 1400 years. Certain it is this is an excellent wood for ship and house-building. At Venice this wood is frequently used in building their houses, as well as in Switzerland, where these trees abound: so that, without all doubt, the larch excels for masts for ships, or beams for houses, doors, windows, &c. particularly as it is said to resist the worm.

"In Switzerland (a) their houses are covered with boards of this wood cut out a foot square; and, as it emits a resinous substance, it so diffuses itself into every joint and crevice, and becomes so compact and close, as well as so hardened by the air, as to render the covering proof against all weather. But as such covering for houses would cause great devastation in case of fire, the buildings are confined to a limited distance by an order of police from the magistrates. The wood, when first laid on the houses, is said to be very white; but this colour, in two or three years is changed, by means of the sun and resin, to a black, which appears like a smooth shining varnish."

(a) "Between Bex and Bevieux (says Coxe in his Travels in Switzerland), I observed the larch in great plenty. Painters, from the time of Pliny to that of Raphael, trusted their works to this wood, which the Roman naturalist styles immortale lignum. The wood is reckoned excellent for all works which are to lie under water: and the borderers on the lake of Geneva prefer it for building their vessels. In these parts I saw most beautiful woods of chestnut. Haller says that they extend some leagues; he also informs us, that they are found in other parts of Switzerland, and even in desert places in some of the transalpine parts. Accident must have brought them thither, as it appears from Pliny that these trees were first introduced into Europe from Sardis." The nuts of the pine cembra, the same author affirms, are eaten as luxuries in Russia, and are even exported with the same view. The unripe cones give a very fragrant oil, termed balsamic. The inhabitants of Siberia use the tender tops, and even the bark rubbed off in the spring, as an antiscorbutic. The kernels of the nuts of the amygdalus nana give a very pleasing flavour to brandy; and, when pressed, afford a bitter oil in large quantities. The way of destroying the bitter is by digesting it in the sun with spirit of wine, and it then becomes sweet and extremely agreeable.

From the larch-tree is extracted what we erroneously call Pinace turpentine. This substance, or natural balsam, flows at first without incision; when it has done dropping, the poor people who wait in the fir woods make incisions at about two or three feet from the ground into the trunks of the trees, into which they fix narrow troughs about 20 inches long. The end of these troughs is hollowed like a ladle; and in the middle is a small hole bored for the turpentine to run into the receiver which is placed below it. As the gummy substance runs from the tree, it passes along the sloping gutter or trough to the ladle, and from thence runs through the holes into the receiver. The people who gather it visit the trees morning and evening from the end of May to September, to collect the turpentine out of the receivers. When it flows out of the tree, Venice turpentine is clear like water, and of a yellowish white; but, as it grows older, it thickens and becomes of a citron colour. It is procured in the greatest abundance in the neighbourhood of Lyons, and in the valley of St Martin near St Lucern in Switzerland.

Though we have already noticed the manner of cultivating some of the particular species of this genus, and have also remarked the uses of some of them, we shall finish the article with a few general observations on the culture and uses of the whole.

Culture. All the sorts of pines are propagated by seeds produced in hard woody cones. The way to get the seeds out of these cones is to lay them before a gentle fire, which will cause the cells to open, and then the seeds may be easily taken out. If the cones are kept entire, the seeds will remain good for some years; so that the surest way of preserving them is to let them remain in the cones till the time for sowing the seeds. If the cones are kept in a warm place in summer, they will open and emit the seeds; but if they are not exposed to the heat, they will remain close for a long time. The best season for sowing the pines is about the end of March. When the seeds are sown, the place should be covered with nets to keep off the birds; otherwise, when the plants begin to appear with the husk of the seed on the top of them, the birds will peck off the tops, and thus destroy them.

Uses. From the first species is extracted the common turpentine, much used by sailors, and from which is drawn the oil of that name. The process of making pitch, tar, resin, and turpentine, from these trees is very familiar. In the spring time, when the sap is most free in running, they pare off the bark of the pine tree, to make the sap run down into a hole which they cut at the bottom to receive it. In the way, as it runs down, it leaves a white matter like cream, but a little thicker. This is very different from all the kinds of resin and turpentine in use, and it is generally sold to be used in the making of flambeaux instead of white beeswax. The matter that is received in the hole at the bottom is taken up with ladles, and put in a large basket. A great part of this immediately runs through, and this is the common turpentine. This is received into stone or earthen pots, and is ready for sale. The thicker matter, which remains in the basket, they put into a common alembic, adding a large quantity of water. They distil this as long as any oil is seen streaming upon the water. This oil they separate from the surface in large quantities, and this is the common oil or spirit of turpentine. The remaining matter at the bottom of the still is common yellow resin. When they have thus obtained all that they can from the sap of the tree, they cut it down, and, hewing the wood into billets, they fill a pit dug in the earth with these billets, and, setting them on fire, there runs from them, while they are burning, a black thick matter. This naturally falls to the bottom of the pit, and this is the tar. The top of the pit is covered with tiles, to keep in the heat; and there is at the bottom a little hole, out of which the tar runs like oil. If this hole be made too large, it sets the whole quantity of the tar on fire; but, if small enough, it runs quietly out.

The tar, being thus made, is put up in barrels; and if it be to be made into pitch, they put it into large boiling vessels, without adding any thing to it. It is then suffered to boil a while, and being then let out, is found when cold to be what we call pitch.

A decoction of the nuts or seeds of the first species in milk, or of the extremities of the branches pulled in spring, is said, with a proper regimen, to cure the most inveterate scurvy. The wood of this species is not valued; but that of the Scots pine is superior to any of the rest. It is observable of the Scots pine, that when planted in bogs, or in a moist soil, though the plants make great progress, yet the wood is white, soft, and little esteemed; but when planted in a dry soil, though the growth of the trees is there very slow, yet the wood is proportionably better. Few trees have been applied to more uses than this. The tallest and straightest are formed by nature for masts to our navy. The timber is resinous, durable, and applicable to numerous domestic purposes, such as flooring and wainscoting of rooms, making of beds, chests, tables, boxes, &c. From the trunk and branches of this, as well as most others of the pine tribe, tar and pitch is obtained. By incision, barras, Burgundy pitch, and turpentine, are acquired and prepared. The resinous roots are dug out of the ground in many parts of the Highlands, and, being divided into small splinters, are used by the inhabitants to burn instead of candles.—At Loch-Broom, in Ross-shire, the fishermen make ropes of the inner bark; but hard necessity has taught the inhabitants of Sweden, Lapland, and Kamtschatka, to convert the same into bread. To effect this, they, in the spring season, make choice of the tallest and fairest trees; then stripping off carefully the outer bark, they collect the soft, white, succulent interior bark, and dry it in the shade. When they have occasion to use it, they first toast it at the fire, then grind, and after Pioneers ter steeping the flour in warm water to take off the resinous taste, they make it into thin cakes, which are baked for use. On this strange food the poor inhabitants are sometimes constrained to live for a whole year; and, we are told, through custom, become at last even fond of it. Linnaeus remarks, that this same bark-bread will fatten swine; and humanity obliges us to wish, that men might never be reduced to the necessity of robbing them of such a food. The interior bark, of which the above mentioned bread is made, the Swedish boys frequently peel off the trees in the spring, and eat raw with greedy appetite. From the cones of this tree is prepared a diuretic oil, like the oil of turpentine, and a resinous extract, which has similar virtues with the balsam of Peru. An infusion or tea of the buds is highly commended as an antiscorbutic. The farina, or yellow powder, of the male flowers, is sometimes in the spring carried away by the winds, in such quantities, where the trees abound, as to alarm the ignorant with the notion of its raining bitumen. The tree lives to a great age; Linnaeus affirms to 400 years.