Picea 



The trunk of this pine was largely used for sub- 

 terranean water-pipes, as under the ground it did 

 not decay. For pipes above ground other material 

 had to be employed. 



Flower, February and March. 

 Italian name, Pino di Corsica. 



PiNUS. 



■ ' pulcherrima pinus in hortis ' (Ec. vii. 6'^). 

 ' nautica pinus ' (Ec. iv. 38). 



It is clear that at least two species are included 

 under this generic name. One is a tree of the south 

 and the lowlands, the other of the north and the 

 hills. The first is the stone or parasol pine (Pinus 

 pinea), a familiar object in the scenery of central 

 and southern Italy, but not coming much north of 

 the famous forest which it makes near Ravenna. 

 This is the tree of our first passage. The other is 

 our own Scotch fir (P. silvestris), which is chiefly an 

 Alpine, but occurs in the Genoese Apenn ines, and 

 as far south as the Parmesan_district. This must be 

 the tree^ofTfie'Vesuran woods which concealed the 

 wild boar (Ae. x, 708), and also that which the bee- 

 keeper is enjoined to bring from the high hills 

 (Ge. iv. 112). The stone pine is easily recognized 

 by its habit and large round cones. 



Pines were sacred to Cybele, Attis, and Pan or 

 Faunus. Pan's home was Mount Maenalus in 

 Arcadia, which always has ' argutumque nemus 

 pinosque loquentes ' (Ec. viii. 22). The trees make 

 their own music in the wind and also echo the notes 



lOI 



