2228 ARBORETUM AND FRUTJCETUM. PART III. 



found in the neighbourhood of habitations. It grows with the greatest luxu- 

 riance on the deep sandy banks of rivers, or the shores of the sea ; and some 

 remarkably fine specimens of it were observed by M. Desfontaines on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, between Marseilles and St. Tropez ; and by M. 

 Audibert, near Saintes, and in the neighboui'hood of Hieres. The only 

 instance recorded of a wood of the stone pine being found in France is that 

 mentioned by M. Malesherbes, in Lower Languedoc, on the right bank of 

 the Rhone. {Desf. Hist, des Arbre.t, ii. p. 622.) In Italy, the stone pines of 

 Ravenna are celebrated for their beauty ; and, indeed, the stone pine forms 

 the most ornamental tree in the landscape scenery of Italy ; as well as occa- 

 sionally in Britain, where its fine dark leaves, copious male blossoms, which 

 diffuse a shower of sulphureous pollen on all the neighbouring plants, and its 

 mossy cones, render it as striking as it is beautiful. Miller thinks the tree not 

 a native of Europe, because it is never found growing but near dwelling- 

 houses. It is certainly plentiful in China, he says, whence he had several 

 times received the seeds. (Diet., ed. 6., 1752.) 



Histonj. Pliny praises the stone pine for bearing fruit in three stages of 

 its growth at the same time. He also speaks of the kernels, which, he says, 

 were preserved in honey ; and he mentions the variety with tender shells, as 

 being then common in the vicinity of Tarentum. The kernels have been found 

 among the domestic stores, in the pantries of Ilerculaneum and Pompeii. The 

 stone pine is mentioned by nearly all the writers of travels in the south of 

 Europe, from the beautiful effect it produces in the scenery ; but the most 

 remarkable tree recorded of this species is one in the south of France, on the 

 Sablettes, a tongue of land which joins the peninsula of (liens to Provence. 

 This pine is conspicuous for its great beauty and majestic shape. According to 

 M. G. Robert, who measured it on the spot, it has a trunk 12 ft. in circumfe- 

 rence, which is clear of branches to the height of 30ft.; at which point the 

 branches that form the head commence, and extend in height 30 ft. more, and 

 horizontally so as to cover a circle of 100 ft. in diameter. This tree is placed 

 in a most conspicuous and striking situation, it being the only tree existing in 

 the middle of the tongue of land on which it grows, and being close to the 

 Mediterranean. There is, indeed, little doubt but that its roots find their way 

 into that sea, as, when a trench was opened in the immediate vicinity of 

 the tree, it filled instantly with salt water. It is worthy of notice in the his- 

 tory of the stone pine of Sablettes, that, about the year 1770, during the 

 American war, an English and an American ship being engaged in battle in 

 the Mediterranean, an English bullet struck the trunk of this pine, and lodged 

 in it, where it has remained ever since, without, apparently, doing the tree 

 the slightest injury, the wound having closed over, and even the scar having 

 disappeared. 



Tlie stone pine was introduced into England before 1548, as it is mentioned 

 in Turner's Names of Hcrbes,Scc., published in that year ; and, as the seeds 

 are easily procured from Italy, it has been frequently planted in collections. 

 Owing to its slow growth and comparative tenderness, it has, however, been 

 generally choked by other trees, so that good specimens are rarely to be met 

 with in English plantations.. 



Poetical Allusions. The following description of the stone pines of Ravenna 

 is by Leigh Hunt : — 



" Various the trees and passing foliage there, 

 Wild pear and oak, and dusky juniper. 

 With briony between in trails of white. 

 And ivy, and the sucklc's streaky light, 

 And moss, warm gleaming with a sudden mark. 

 Like flings of sunshine left upon the bark. 

 And still the pine, long-haired, and dark, and tall, 

 In lordly right, predominant o'er all. 

 Much they admire that old religious tree. 

 With sh.-ift above the rest ui>shooting free. 

 And shaking, when its dark locks feel the wind, 

 Its wealthy fruit with rough mosaic rind." 



Properties and Uses. The wood of the stone pine is whitish, moderately 



