352 [Assembly 



The name of the pine tree is supposed to be derived from the 

 Greek Avord pinos, which word was used by Theophrastus to de- 

 signate it; others imagine it to be taken from the cettic pin or 

 pyn, signifying a rock. Thus tlie property belongs to the gym- 

 Jiospermous division of trees, and dil&is from the firs in the form 

 of its leave i, which are long and spindling, growing in a group 

 of from three to five radiating from a centre. There are more 

 than fifty species of this family, and nearly all of them are wor- 

 thy of cultivation, not merely as an ornament but as one of the 

 most important articles of commerce, not only in this country 

 but Eiu'ope. They are known to succeed on any kind of laud, 

 but best upon a loam with a clay subsoil. I say best, because 

 that species of soil has generally been observed to produce a tree 

 in great perfection for timber. 



It may be grown in various ways, by grafting, inarching, lay- 

 erings, by cuttings, and by seed, which last is probably the best, 

 and most speedy ; if sown in a fine pulverized rich sandy loam 

 in April or May, say within half an inch of the surface of the 

 ground. The best timber is grown in regions, where it progresses 

 slow'ly to maturity, and has time to perfect itself, say eighty 

 years. 



The Scotch fir is considered the most durable of the pine tribe, 

 on account of its brightness, tightness and stiffness. It is much 

 sought after by joiners, and is particularly useful as girders and 

 rafters, and is considered almost if not quite as durable as oak, 

 that is to say when grown in Scotland, the climate of which 

 country is admirably adapted to its cultivation. It might be 

 grown probably in Canada to the same perfection, — grown in 

 England it is far inferior to the Scotch. It yields pitch, tar and 

 turpentine without injury to the tree. The white spruce pine is 

 a very useful tree to the northern part of America, where its 

 roots are made use of by the Indians as thread in the construc- 

 tion of tlieir cauoes, and its bark for the purposes of tanning 

 leather. It grows about sixty feet high with spreading branches, 

 the leaves are quadrangular, and acuminate. 



The black spruce pine is also a habitant of the colder portions 

 of North A.merica, and grows usually in low wet lands, to the 



