PINUS PINASTER. 



367 



to six in length, having an even surface on both 

 sides. From the number of these plates also 

 the age of a tree may be nearly computed, for 

 unless any of the outer scales have peeled off, 

 which sometimes happens, the age of the tree 

 corresponds with the number of annual deposits. 

 The trunks of old trees generally incline a little 

 on one side, this effect having been produced by 

 the weight of the foliage &c., while they were 

 young. The lower part of the trunk is entirely 

 bare of branches, but higher up there usually 

 project the stumps of numerous dead branches of 

 unequal lengths and diameters, and the head bears 

 a close resemblance to that described below as 

 characterizing the Stone Pine, except that it does 

 not spread so widely. The roots are few in num- 

 ber, but unusually stout, and instead of extending 

 themselves laterally, as is the case with most of 

 the Fir tribe, they descend almost perpendicu- 

 larly. Consequently the Pinaster does not flou- 

 rish on a thin soil, but delights in a dry and sandy 

 situation. 



The Pinaster inhabits a wide range of country, 

 being found in the south of Europe, the north of 

 Africa, and the west of Asia ; it is also said to 

 grow on the Himalayan mountains. Great use 

 has been made of this tree, in the south of France, 

 in fixing the shifting surface of the sand-hills, and 

 even in turning the waste land which they occu- 

 pied to profitable account. In the neighbourhood 

 of the Gulf of Gascony alone, there were, in 1789, 

 no less than three hundred square miles rendered 

 worse than useless by innumerable naked sand- 

 hills, which were constantly altering their position, 

 and on the occurrence of storms, having their 



