3o8 DIVERSIONS OF A NATURALIST 



conifers produce peculiar resins, such as colophon, amber, 

 kauri gum, Canada balsam, Dammar varnish, and others, 

 and also various qualities of turpentine, tar, and pitch. 



I have mentioned the three commonest conifers 

 which flourish in England, and have pointed out that 

 only one of them — the Pinus sylvestris, or Scots fir — 

 is really indigenous to our islands. It extends all over 

 Europe, except the extreme south and west, and right 

 through Russian Asia. In the Alps, at the height of 

 3000 to 5000 feet, it is represented by a dwarf re- 

 cumbent species, the Pinus montana, or P. pumilio. 

 There is another really native conifer in Britain which 

 belongs t-o a peculiar family, that of the cypresses. 

 This is the common juniper, called by botanists " Juni- 

 perus communis," a mere shrub, but still a beautiful 

 little thing, noticeable for the fine perfume of its leaves, 

 which is used for flavouring " gin," and for its peculiar 

 minute and compact berry-like cones. It has a very wide 

 range, flourishing throughout the north temperate region 

 of Europe, Asia, and America. There is another juniper 

 well known in England, namely, the Savin (Juniperus 

 Sabina). This is not a native, but was introduced 

 before 1548. It has powerful medicinal properties. 



When we spend our holidays abroad in Switzerland 

 or on the Mediterranean shores we come across many 

 other flourishing, well-established kinds of pines, firs, and 

 cypresses. And we need not leave England in order 

 to make acquaintance with a very large number which 

 have been introduced from abroad into plantations and 

 parks, and grow under favourable circumstances, but 

 cannot be said to have established themselves as 

 naturalized inhabitants. Among those more anciently 

 introduced is the cedar of Lebanon ; of later introduction 



