THE PINE SUB-FAMILY. 95 



ingly unsatisfactory, and cannot be depended upon in the 

 Northern and Middle States. It is a native of the Medi- 

 terranean coast, and is found in almost every country 

 bordering on that sea, as well as in the north of Africa, 

 and in portions of Asia, although some writers contend it 

 is an introduced plant in these latter places. 



The Cluster Pine is generally found growing from fifty 

 to seventy-five feet in height, and forms a remarkably 

 handsome shaped tree. On the sandy plains in the Apen- 

 nine range of mountains, this tree flourishes with unusual 

 vigor, and in many sections of that region of country, 

 tracts of sandy, waste places have been planted with it, 

 that now yield annually a large quantity of wood for fuel, 

 as well as an inferior article of lumber. 



On calcareous soils, however, it has been asserted that 

 this species will not thrive, an idea it would be well to bear 

 in mind before testing its availability. It is a valuable 

 auxiliary to those residing near the sea-shore where many 

 plants refuse to thrive, as the salt breezes in those localities 

 do not aifect it in the least. 



The vast extent of country in which this pine has been 

 detected, as well as the number of varieties and different 

 forms of growth it assumes, have given rise to a multipli- 

 city of synonyms, which many of our best authorities 

 have added to ; but justice to their discrimination demands 

 that the fact of so great a diversity of names, by such 

 observing and intelligent botanists, should be attributed 

 to the species having manifestly different habits and pecu- 

 i liarities in the various countries where it has been found. 



Var, Hamilton!!, Tenore. LORD ABERDEEN'S PINE. 

 Syn. var. escarenus, Loudon. P. escarena, Risso, etc. 

 According to Loudon, " The leaves are of a paler green 

 than those of the species, but they are equally long and 

 strong. The cones are shorter, and more ovate." This is 

 the most distinct and handsome variety of P. Pinaster 



