70 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



height of two hundred and thirty feet, and is up- 

 wards of fifty feet in circumference at the base. It 

 has a rough corky bark, from an inch to twelve inches 

 thick. The leaves resemble those of the spruce, and 

 the cones are small. The timber is of good quality, 

 and very heavy. This pine was found by Mr. 

 Douglas on the banks of the Columbia, where it 

 forms extensive forests, extending from the shores 

 of the Pacific to the Stoney Mountains. 



2. Pinus Lambertiana* . This species of pine 

 was discovered in Northern California, where it is 

 dispersed over large tracts of country, but does not 

 form dense forests like most of the other pines. 

 It is a very majestic tree; and one specimen which, 

 in consequence of its having been blown down, Mr. 

 Douglas was enabled to measure, was two hundred 

 and fifteen feet in length, fifty-seven feet nine inches 

 in circumference at three feet from the root, and seven- 

 teen feet five inches at one hundred and thirty-four 

 feet. It is probably the largest single mass of timber 

 that ever was measured by man, though some of the 

 growing specimens of the same pine were evidently 

 of greater elevation. The trunk of the Lambertiana 

 is straight, and clear of branches for about two- 

 thirds of the height. The bark is uncommonly 

 smooth, and the whole tree has a most graceful 

 appearance. The cones resemble those of the Wey- 

 mouth pine, but are much larger, being on an average 

 at least sixteen inches in length. The seeds are 

 eaten roasted, or pounded into cakes. The tree 

 bears a considerable resemblance to the spruces ; 

 and, as is the case with them, its turpentine is of a 

 pure amber colour, and the timber soft, white, and 

 light. One singular property of this tree is, that 



* The name of this pine was given to it as a tribute to 

 Lambert, the author of a most splendid work on the genus 

 Pinvs. 



