356 flint's NATUBAL HISTORY. [Book XVI. 



wine, from the very first, may be fully known. "Whereas 

 there are several among the trees already mentioned in Asia 

 or the East, that produce pitch, in Europe there are but 

 six varieties of kindred trees that supply it. In this number 

 there are the pine 7 and the pinaster, 8 which have long thin 

 leaves like hair, and pointed at the end. The pine yields the 

 least resin of them all : in the pine nut, indeed, of which we 

 have previously spoken, 9 it is sometimes to be found, but 

 hardly in sufficient quantities to warrant us in reckoning the 

 pine among the resinous trees. 



CHAr. 17. THE PINASTEE. 



The pinaster is nothing else but a wild pine : it rises to a 

 surprising height, and throws out branches from the middle, 

 just as the pine does from the top. This tree yields a more 

 copious supply of resin than the pine : the mode in which this 

 is done we shall set forth 10 on a future occasion. It grows 

 also in flat countries. Many people think that this is the 

 same tree that grows along the shores of Italy, and is known 

 as the " tibulus ;" u but this last is slender, and more com- 

 pact than the pine ; it is likewise free from knots, and hence 

 is used in the construction of light gallies ; 12 they are both almost 

 entirely destitute of resin. 



chap. 18. — the pitch-tree: the pie. 

 The pitch-tree 13 loves the mountain heights and cold loca- 

 lities. This is a funereal tree, and, as an emblem of death, is 

 placed before the door of the deceased, and is left to grow in 

 the vicinity of the funeral pile. Still, however, it is now 

 some time since it was admitted into our gardens, in conse- 

 quence of the facility with which it is clipped into various 

 shapes. It gives out considerable quantities of resin, 14 which 



7 The Pinus pinea of Linnaeus, the cultivated pine. 

 § The Pinus silvestris of Linnaeus, the wild pine; the Pinus maritima of 

 Lamarck is a variety of it. 

 p B. xv. c. 9. 10 Ln c. 23 of this Book. 



11 A variety of the Pinus silvestris of Linnaeus. 



12 " Liburnicae." See B. ix. cc. 5 and 48. 



13 The Abies excelsa of Decandolle— the Pesse or Faux sapin (false fir) 

 of the French. This tree, however, has not the pectinated, or comb-like 

 leaf, mentioned by Plinv in c. 38. . , . m ' ' 



" It is still known in commerce as " false incense ; and is otten sola 



