69 



XXIV. 

 ABIETINE^. 



THE PINE. 



PINUS. 



The Scotch pine, P. svlveslris, is the only 

 member of the tribe with any pretensions to be 

 a representative of Great Britain. No other 

 pine, exceptinij the pinaster, was known to this 

 country before the Eighteenth Centur}'. 



The long, thin, needle-shaped leaves, varying 

 in number from two to five, and enclosed at the 

 base in a sheath, are one of the chief features of 

 the pine. It flowers in May and June, producing 

 the sexes in different flowers on an indi\idual 

 tree. Some of the cones are retained long after 

 shedding their seed ; we may then see them in 

 three different stages at one time, on the same 

 tree. 



The Scotch pine is certainly one of the most 

 important of the group. Few trees yield so 

 many useful elements, of which tar, turpentine, 

 and deal are the principal. In charatler it is 



