2152 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



species of this genus ; but the varieties we admit to be distinct ; and these might 

 be increased in number, if the colour of the flowers and of the cones were 

 taken into consideration. 



To observe the different forms assumed by the same species, they should 

 be studied in all their native habitats ; and/ to mark how all these different 

 forms return to that of the species which may be considered the central or 

 normal form, it is necessary to study them under cultivation in the same soil, 

 situation, and climate. Many species of ^bietinae that are very distinct in 

 the forests of America, come very near to each other in the pinetums of 

 Britain ; and species which appear very distinct in the pure air and elevated 

 situation of Dropmore, are hardly recognisable as different in the smoky 

 atmosphere of the Hackney arboretum. It is very remarkable, that, in this 

 last situation, the only species which thrive are P. Laricio and its varieties, 

 and P. Pinaster and P. Pmea. These, therefore, may be considered the 

 best pines for planting in cities. 



Whatever we may think on the subject of species, we have treated all 

 the kinds in such a manner, and given so many synonymes, that those who 

 differ from us in opinion will find no difficulty in recognising in our pages the 

 species of other authors. The great objects that we have had in view, in 

 this work, in reducing the number of species, have been to simplify and to 

 generalise, in order to render the subject of technical distinctions less per- 

 plexing to general readers, and to young students in arboriculture. 



As the dried specimens of the /fbietinse, from the large size of the cones, 

 cannot, in general, be kept in paper, like the specimens of broad-leaved trees, 

 we may mention, for the benefit of gardeners, that we have found slight paste- 

 board boxes, like those in which hats are kept, which cost, in London, about 

 6d. each, a very convenient receptacle for enclosing them. Each box will 

 contain, at an average, half a dozen species. The specimens, as soon as 

 possible after being gathered, should be dipped in boiling water, in conse- 

 quence of which they will retain their leaves ; and as the cones generally open 

 by drying, when it is wished to see their correct shape, they ought to be put 

 into cold water for a quarter of an hour, till the scales close up, and the cone 

 resumes its original form. 



GENUS I. 



SHffiS 



PfNUS L. THE PINE. Lin. Syst. Monoe v cia Monadelphia. 



Identification. Lin. Gen., 499. ; Juss., 414. ; F). Br, 1031.; Tourn., t355, 356.; Gsertn., t. 81. ; 

 N. Du Ham., 5. p. 229. ; Lamb. Pin., 2d ed., 1. t 1. 



Synonymes. Le pin, I'r. ; Fichte, Pynbaum, or Kiefer, Ger. ; Pynboom, Dutch ; Pino, Ital. and 

 Span. ; Pinu, Anglo-Saxon ; Pinnua, Welsh ; Peigne, Erse. 



Derivation. The word Pinus comes from the Greek pinos, used by Theophrastus to designate the 

 pine tree. Pinos has for its root pion, which signifies fat; because the trees of this genus furnish 

 pitch and tar. Others derive the word Pinus from pin, or pyn, a mountain or rock, Celtic; in 

 allusion to the habitat of the tree ; the British towns Pen-ryn, Pen-rith, and Pen-maen ; and the 

 Spanish ones, Penna-flor, Penna-fiel, &c., being so call from being built on hills, or rocks. 



Description. Evergreen trees, generally of large size, natives of Europe, 

 Asia, and America, and in an eminent degree both useful and ornamental. 

 They flower, in Britain, in May and June, and generally ripen their cones in 

 the autumn of the following year. The species may be arranged either 

 according to their cones, or their leaves ; and we have adopted the latter 

 feature as the foundation of our sections, because it is applicable to trees in 

 every stage of their growth ; and because many of the species in London 

 gardens have not yet borne cones. 



Sect. i. Birue. Leaves generally 2 in a Sheath. 



i. Sylvestres. 

 Sect. Char. Leaves short, more or less glaucous ; cones short, generally small, 



