104 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



tion. The resin that abounds so plentifully throughout 

 its structure, as well as the value of the timber, should be 

 sufficient inducements for its cultivation. Michaux very 

 justly advances the claims of this tree, and urges on Eu- 

 ropean cultivators the advantages to be derived from such 

 plantations. London says : " As an ornamental tree, this 

 species is well deserving of cultivation." 



19, P. sylvestris, Linnwus. SCOTCH PINE. (Numer- 

 ous unimportant synonyms.) Leaves, from \\ inches to 2^ 

 inches long, with short, lacerated sheaths, twisted, rigid, 

 light bluish-green. Cones, ovate-conical, from 2 to 3 inch- 

 es long, grayish-brown color ; with a quadrangular, recurv- 

 ed point. Seeds, small, with a long, reddish-colored wing. 

 Crest of the anthers, very small. Cotyledons, 5 to 7. 



The Scotch Pine, often erroneously called Scotch Fir, is 

 probably the most useful and numerous, as well as the 

 most familiar, of all the European species. It is, in its na- 

 tive country, what the White Pine is to us ; but in point 

 of usefulness in all respects, it is far inferior to the latter. 

 Some European writers, however, think differently, and as- 

 sert the superior advantages of the Scotch Pine in the 

 strongest terms. 



" The first modern record of the tree," says Loudon, 

 " is by Matthiolus, who called it Pinus sylvestris montana, 

 and sylvestris was afterwards adopted by Linnaeus." Al- 

 though the common name would lead us to believe that 

 it is either confined to Scotland, or is remarkably abund- 

 ant in that country, some writers are in doubt of its being 

 a native there, and are under the impression that it is an 

 introduced plant; but throughout the central countries 

 of Europe, this species forms vast forests, in many sec- 

 tions clothing the mountain sides with its dark green ver- 

 dure. Especially in the colder regions, on the Pyrenees, 

 Tyrolian, Swiss, and Yosgian mountains, it is seen in per- 

 fection in the most elevated and bleakest situations imagin- 

 able In those countries the Scotch Pine attains a height 



