PINE TREE. 



PINUS. 



CONIFERS. MONCECIA MONADEI,J-HIA, 



French, pin ; Italian, pino. 



THE Wild Pine Tree, Pinus sylvestris, is commonly 

 called the Scotch Pine, or Scotch Fir, from its plentiful 

 growth in the mountains of Scotland ; but it is common 

 in most parts of Europe, particularly the northern parts. 

 The leaves are of a grayish colour, and twisted : the 

 cones are small and pyramidal. In a favourable soil 

 this tree will grow eighty feet high, with a straight 

 trunk : its timber varies in colour, and according to that 

 variation bears the name of white, red, or yellow deal ; 

 it is resinous, and durable, and applied to purposes in- 

 numerable : the tallest afford masts for our navy. Pitch, 

 tar, turpentine, &c. is obtained from most of the trees of 

 this genus. 



In many parts of the Highlands the roots are dug up, 

 and being divided into small splinters, used instead of 

 candles. Evelyn says this is done in New England also, 

 and in Virginia, and among the Dutch planters in their 

 villages, and that it is there called candlewood. Being 

 somewhat offensive by the quantity of smoke which issues 

 from it, they commonly burn it in the chimney-corner, 

 upon a flat stone or iron ; except upon occasions when 

 they want to carry it from one place to another, when 

 they carry a single stick in the hand. 



Hard necessity has taught the Kamschatdales and 

 Laplanders to convert the bark of these trees into bread : 



