188 CONES OF PINES. 



that pitch, tar, common resin, and turpentine 

 are obtained. You will find an account of the 

 method of preparing these different substances 

 very curious. 



EDWARD. 



What are the cones that we see on the fir-trees 

 in the shrubbery ? 



MOTHER. 



They are the seed-vessels or fruit of the fir : : 

 the cone, or Strob'ile, as botanists call it, is a 

 tough, woody seed-vessel, consisting of the general 

 receptacle, with a number of hard scales attached 

 to it. When the fruit of the pine is mature, these 

 scales lie over each other like tiles, covering the 

 seeds, or nuts, so completely, as to have the ap- 

 pearance of one undivided body. In this state, the 

 cone hangs upon the tree during the winter-season, 

 and protects the seeds which it contains ; but as 

 soon as the warm weather comes again, the scales of 

 the cone begin to shrink and separate, leaving open- 

 ings for the ripe seeds to escape. If a number 

 of cones happen to burst at the same moment, 

 which is often the case, the noise can be heard at 

 a considerable distance. 



EDWARD. 



Are there any other useful plants in this class, 

 besides the pines? 



