CHAP. 511.] ABIETINE^. 217 



and so very small, that it appears wonderful 

 that a tree frequently above a hundred feet high 

 can spring from them. The cones are of a 

 bright red when young, but they become brown 

 when ripe. The Larch grows very rapidly, and 

 in situations where no other tree would thrive. 

 Its wood is very valuable, and its bark is nearly 

 as useful for tanning as that of the oak. The 

 trees, however, in some situations are subject to 

 a disease called pumping, by which the centre 

 of the trunk becomes as hollow as though it 

 were intended for a pump. The sap of the 

 Larch produces the Venice turpentine ; and in 

 some parts of France a kind of gum, called the 

 Manne de Briar 9on, which is used medicinally, 

 is collected from the leaves. 



THE GENUS CEDRUS. THE CEDA-R. 



There are only two species in this genus, the 

 Cedar of Lebanon {Cedrus Libani), and the 

 Deodar (C. Deodara). The male catkins of the 

 Cedar of Lebanon are produced singly, and 

 each scale has a large crest. The cones are 

 ovate, and the scales, which are very short and 

 broad, fall with the seeds, in the same manner 

 as those of the Silver Fir. The leaves resemble 

 those of the Larch, but they are not deciduous. 

 The male and female catkins are very often on 

 different plants ; and the trees attain a con- 



