MONCECIA 203 



inside, or heart taken out, affords a delicious salad, when sea 

 soned with vinegar and pepper, and is eaten in the manner 

 that we eat cabbage slaw. It is also good when fried in 

 butter. 



GENUS Pinus. Pine. Name, from the Celtic, pin. or pen, 

 signifying fir-tree. The Fir is however a different species, 

 though the two are often confounded. This is among the no- 

 blest genera of forest trees. Several of the species rise to 

 the height of 200 feet, and are not less remarkable for their 

 magnificence and beauty, than for the value and durability of 

 their timber. Of this tribe, or natural order, which is called 

 Conifera, or cone bearers, Dr. Torrey enumerates thirty-one 

 species as natives of North America. They are all ever- 

 greens, and according to Prof. Lindley, are natives of vari- 

 ous parts of the world, from the perpetual snow.s and inhos- 

 pitable climate of Arctic America, to the hottest regions of 

 the Indian Archipelago. The largest and most ^riable, are 

 however chiefly found in the northern arid temperate parts of 

 the northern hemisphere. 



" No order," says Prof. Lindley, (Nat. Sys.) " is of more 

 universal importance to mankind than this, whether we view 

 it with reference to its timber, or its secretions. Gigantic in 

 size, rapid in growth, noble in aspect, robust in constitution, 

 these trees form a considerable proportion of every wood, or 

 plantation in cultivated countries, and of every forest where 

 nature remains in a savage state." One species of this tribe, 

 growing in New Zealand, attains the height of 200 feet. But 

 even this is surpassed by some of the Pines in North Amer 

 ica, which are said to attain the height of 230 feet. 



The masts and spars of ships are universally made of the 

 wood of this genus, and a great proportion of the lumbei 

 which is transported from one country to another, is of Pine. 

 The resinous secretions of this tribe, are also of the great- 

 est consequence to man, and especially to the interests 01 

 commerce. Tar, pitch, and rosin, articles absolutely indis- 

 pensable in the preparation of ships for sea, all come from 

 these species. Oil of turpentine, Canadian balsam, Balm 

 of Gilead, Venetian turpentine, Storax, and several other 

 useful resins, are the products of the Linnaean genus, Pi- 

 rms. 



This family has been divided into Pinus, Larix, (Larches,) 



What is said of the size and use of the pine genus ? How has the 

 oine-tree family been divided 1 



