326 SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



" Lentiscum melius ; sed si tibi frondea cuspis 

 Defuerit, dentes penna levare potest. 



L. xiv. Ep. 22. 



" Lentisk is best, but if you've none, why then 

 E'en take a pen." 



An excrescence is found among the leaves of the tur- 

 pentine and mastick trees, which is produced by the 

 puncture of an insect, and when opened is found full 

 of little worms. 



The Lentiscus is considered a beautiful evergreen, but 

 it is rather tender. In this climate, the Pistacia nut and 

 the turpentine trees both require a warm situation : they 

 are generally planted against a warm wall, where our 

 common winters will not injure them. In very severe 

 winters, they have some little protection, but the Len- 

 tiscus requires some shelter in seasons less severe. It was 

 cultivated in this country in 1664. It blossoms in May. 

 There is, in Barbary, another species of Pistacia which 

 yields mastick, though of an inferior kind, Pistacia Atlan- 

 tica. It is not, however, readily distinguished from the 

 oriental mastick, and both bear the same name among 

 the Moors, Heulc. The Arabs collect this gum, and 

 make the same use of it as of the mastick from Chios. 

 The fruit of this tree is eaten by the Moors, who some- 

 times bruise it and mix it with their dates. 



