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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



P. sativa, Amman, Ruth. 178. P. silvestris Cemhro, Cam. Epit. 42. 

 Larix semfermrens, &c. Breyn. in Act, Nat. Cur, Cent. 7, 8. Pinaster, 

 Bell. Conif. 20, 21. Tseda arbor, Cemhro Italorum, Daleli. Hist. i. 47. 

 Cembra sativa, A. S. Oersted, Frilands-Trovoxten i Danmark, 1864, 

 82. P. Cemhra stHda, liort. P. Aphemousli, Hort. Angl, 



Habitat. — On the Alps, at an elevation of from 4,200 to 6,700 

 feet, and on the Carpathian Mountains at the same elevations. 



It was introduced into England by Archibald, Duke of Argyll, in 

 1746 ; but whether from Siberia or Switzerland is uncertain, though 

 in all probability from the latter country, as the cones of the 

 original tree, still existing at Whitton, answer better to the description 

 of those of P. C. helvetica than to those of P. C. sibirica. The Swiss 

 variety was strongly recommended by the Rev. J. Harte in his ' ' Essays 

 on Husbandry," published in 1746, and it is not improbable that it 

 was he who communicated the seeds to the Duke of Argyll, though 

 there is no positive evidence on the subject. Mr. Lambert states that 

 a great many seeds w^ere brought from Switzerland to England about 

 the end of the last century, and that more than two thousand plants 

 were raised from part of them. 



The wood of P. Cembra is very soft, and its grain is so fine that 

 it is scarcely perceptible. According to the " Nouveau Duhamel," it is 

 very resinous, which is the cause of its agreeable fragrance. It is not 

 commonly large enough to be used in carpentry, but in joinery it is 

 of great value, as it is remarkably easy to work, and is of great 

 durability. In Switzerland it is very much used by turners, and the 

 shepherds of the Swiss cantons and of the Tyrol occupy their 

 leisure hours in carving out of it numerous curious little figures of 

 men and animals, which they sell in the towns, and which have found 

 their way all over Europe. The wood is much used for wainscoting ; 

 having not only an agreeable light browai appearance, but retaining its 

 odour, according to Kasthofer, for centuries. In Dauphine the 

 kernels of the seed, Villars informs us, are eagerly sought after by 

 a species of crow {Corvus Caryocatactes, L,), which shows an almost in- 

 credible degree of skill in breaking the hardest shells. In Switzerland 

 the seeds are used in some places as food, and in others as an article of 

 luxury ; and the shell being very hard, and requiring some time and 

 skill to separate it from the kernel, the doing so forms an amusement 

 for young persons in the long winter evenings, who, Kasthofer 

 observes, show a degree of skill in it that might vie with that of the 

 squirrel. In some places in the Tj^rol the seeds are bruised, and an 

 oil obtained from them by expression. So abundant is this oil in 

 comparison with that produced by other seeds, that while a pound of 

 flax seed yields only 2| oz., 1 lb. of cembra seed yields 5 oz. Cembra 

 oil is used both as food and for burning in lamps ; but as the break- 

 ing of the seeds requires a long time, it is generally dearer than most 

 other oils. It has a very agreeable flavour when newly made, but very 



