Vlll INTRODUCTION. 



Immense Fir and Pine forests abound also in Sweden, 

 Norway, Russia, Poland, and Prussia ; " imagine," says Dr. 

 Clarke, " the Gulf of Bothnia to be surrounded by one con- 

 tinuous unbroken forest, as ancient as the world, and con- 

 sisting of Pine trees — then you will have a general and 

 correct notion of a real Pine Forest." 



In the temperate and northern zones of Europe and 

 Asia, the Conifers enjoy a wide range, extending even to 

 the regions of perpetual snow. In South America, some 

 kinds, such as the Araucarias, differ considerably in 

 general aspect from the true Pines : and still more so in 

 Australia and Polynesia, with respect to the Phyllocladus, 

 the Dammara, and the Dacrydium ; but all produce 

 similar timber and secretions. These secretions, which 

 are always in the form of resinous juices, differ much 

 in properties, and may be divided into two classes ; 

 those obtained from the living tree by incisions in the 

 bark ; and those obtained from the wood and roots after 

 felling, by the application of heat. Among the former are 

 liquid balsam, the common black and yellow resin of the 

 shops, with oil and spirits of turpentine ; among the latter 

 are tar, pitch, and lamp black. The Strasburg and Venice 

 turpentine come from the Silver Fir and Common Larch, 

 and the best yellow resin (so much used in the manufacture 

 of yellow soap) from the Norway Spruce. Olibanum and 

 Sandarac are from the Junipers, and some of the finer 

 resins and gums from the Dammara, Araucaria, and 

 Callitris. 



The soil preferred by Pines in a natural state (and 

 therefore the most congenial to them), is that composed 

 of the debris of granitic rock, with a dry subsoil. They 



