Naturalisation in, Extra- Tropical Countries. 355 



is of sweet taste, and eaten by the natives. The cones may be 19 

 inches long ; the seeds are edible. This pine would come to per- 

 fection best in the humid regions of higher mountains. P. reflexa 

 (Engelmann) is an allied large species with smaller fruit, occurring 

 in Arizona. 



Pinus Laricio, Poiret.* (P. maritima. Miller.) 



Corsican Pine. South-Europe, ascending to about 6,000 feet, 

 It attains a height of 150 feet. A splendid shelter-tree, particu- 

 larly for the coldest regions. One of the best pines to thrive in 

 the southern part of the Middle Island of New Zealand [Waugh]. 

 It is also cultivated at Christiania. It will succeed on stiff clay as 

 well as on sandy soil, even on sea-sand. The wood is pale, towards 

 the centre dark, very resinous, coarse-grained, elastic and durable, 

 aud much esteemed for building, especially for water-works ; valu- 

 able also for its permanency underground. There are three main- 

 varieties of this pine, namely, P. L. Poiretiana in Italy, P. L. 

 Austriaca in Austria, P. L. Pallasiana on the borders of the Black 

 Sea. The tree grows best in calcareous soil, but also in poor sandy 

 ground, where however the timber gets not so large nor so good. 

 It yields all the products of P. silvestris, but in greater quantities, 

 being perhaps the most resinous of all pines. Assumed to attain 

 an age of 500 years [Langethal]. The Austriaca variety attained 

 a stem-girth of nearly 2 feet in 10 years, when cultivated in 

 Nebraska [Governor Fnrnas]. This species is regarded by some 

 as even preferable for timber-rearing to P. silvestris and P. Larix. 

 Bate of upward growth lf-2 feet in a year. 



Pinus Larix, Linne.* 



Common Larch. On the European Alps, up to 7,000 feet. A 

 tree of quick growth in cool localities ; adapted to poor soil, its 

 foliage as in all larches deciduous. It attains often a height of 100 

 feet, sometimes rising even to 160 feet, and produces a valuable 

 timber of great durability, which is used for land- and water- 

 buildings, and much prized for ship- and boat-building ; for staves 

 of wine-casks almost indestructible, not allowing the evaporation 

 of the spirituous contents [Simmonds], also much employed for 

 pumps. The Briangon-Manna exudes from the stem. Larch-trees, 

 cut in Bohemia, have shown over 500 annual rings in their wood 

 (" Langethal]. Larch-timber lasts three times longer than that of 

 the Nor way- Spruce, and although buoyant and elastic it is tougher 

 and more compact; it is proof against decaying effect of water, not 

 readily igniting, and heavier and harder than any deal [Stauffer]. 

 The Venetian nouses, constructed of larch-wood, showed for almost 

 indefinite periods no symptoms of decay. This wood is also selected 

 for the most lasting panels of paintings. The bark is used for tanning 

 and dyeing. The tree is also of great importance for its yield of 

 Venetian turpentine, which is obtained by boring holes into the 



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