MONO C1IL AMYDE JE . 



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the " Coniferae," as they all bear cones. In their general 

 aspect many of these somewhat resemble endogenous 

 trees, growing perfectly straight in the stem, and 

 giving off branches in whorls at regular distances ; some, 

 as the Norfolk Island Pine, form perfectly regular 

 figures by the interlacement of their branches. The 

 Firs have their thin narrow leaves starting off singly 

 from the branch, and always on the upper side, like the 

 teeth of a comb, while the Pines have their leaves 



Larch. 



Yew. 



Bay. 



grouped together, starting off in fours or fives from 

 the same spot. The Comfera furnish the longest and 

 straightest timber of all trees, they commonly grow to 

 100 feet high, and in New Zealand and California 

 to more than 300. The "Wellingtonia Gigantea is the 

 tallest species known, and the Araucaria Excelsa 

 (Norfolk Island Pine), perhaps, the next. The trees of 

 this order are amongst the most useful to man, supplying 

 a number of useful articles, such as turpentine, resin, &c., 

 besides the most valuable timber. Pines, like the Palms, 

 serve as a screen against the severity of the weather, but, 

 while the palms keep off" the burning rays of the sun, 

 the pines defend us from the cold of the mountain 

 blasts ; they are indeed used as nurses, and as such, in 

 our oak plantations, serve to screen the young saplings 



