84 
CONIFERS. THE PINUS, OR PINE TREE. 
depth of i inch. It may be also increased by- 
grafting on the Pinus sylvestris, a process 
which is said to improve the character of the 
species. In the Traite Pratique of Dela- 
marre, the operation is described as follows : 
— The species intended to be united should 
be as nearly allied as possible ; for, though 
P. Pinaster and P. Pinea may be grafted on 
the P. sylvestris, and the cedar on the larch, 
yet it is preferable (because the grafts succeed 
better, and the trees produced are likely to 
last longer,) to graft species which are ever- 
greens on evergreen stocks, and those with 
the leaves in bundles on stocks with the same 
number of leaves in a bundle. The operation 
of herbaceous grafting is performed in the 
cleft manner ; the slit being made a little 
deeper than that part of the scion which is to 
be inserted in it. The time of performing 
the operation is when the leading shoot of the 
stock has attained the length of from eight 
to twelve inches, and will break over (without 
tearing the bark,) like a piece of glass, or the 
most succulent part of a shoot of asparagus 
fit to gather for the table. The time during 
which any given species has its leading shoot 
in a fit state for being broken over in this 
manner is not more than 15 days ; and as the 
scions from the species to be grafted are 
equally tender with the stock, they will not 
remain longer in a state fit for the operation 
than about the same period. The graft should 
be inserted in the leading shoot, which should 
be broken with the hand so as to reduce it to 
the length of from four inches to six inches ; the 
leaves are then removed from this remaining 
portion, with the exception of about an inch 
at the top, on which they are left for the pur- 
pose of drawing up the sap. The scion should 
be about two inches in length, the lower part of 
which should be deprived of its leaves and cut 
in the form of a thin wedge, the operator 
using a very sharp knife. The graft should 
then be tied with matting or woollen, and 
then covered with a cap of paper, in the form 
of a candle extinguisher, so as to exclude the 
sunshine. The covering must of course be 
tied to the stock. About a fortnight after, 
the ligature may be removed. The process 
here detailed will of course serve for all other 
species of pines, the seeds of which are difficult 
to procure. 
Pinus Pallasiana, Lambert (Pallas's, or 
Tartarian Pine). — Leaves long, two in a 
sheath, nearly erect, channelled. Sheaths short 
with three rings. Cones somewhat curved, 
four to five inches in length. Bud one inch in 
length, somewhat in the shape of those of 
P. Laricio, but considerably larger. This 
plant has many synonymes, among which are 
the following : — P. taurica, P. viaritima, 
P. tatarica, P. halepensis, P. Laricio. 
A native of the Crimea, whence seeds of it 
were sent in 1790 to Messrs. Lee and Ken- 
nedy of the Hammersmith Nursery, who sent 
it out as P. tatarica. The wood of this tree 
is excellent ; but it can only be had of a ser- 
viceable length by planting the young trees so 
close to each other as to prevent the growth of 
any very large sized branches, and conse- 
quently of knots. This tree naturally assumes 
the habit of P. sylvestris, but often expends 
itself in large branches without a leader. It 
has the reputation of withstanding the effects 
of the sea air, and of growing tolerably on 
chalky soils ; but its high price, (7s. 6d.) has 
hitherto rendered it available only to a few ; 
and as it has not yet ripened its seeds in this 
climate, it will no doubt continue a high-priced 
plant. Grafting it on P. sylvestris or P. 
Laricio, is the only mode of overcoming the 
difficulty. 
Pinus Pinea, Linnaeus (Stone Pine). — 
Leaves two, and sometimes three in a sheath. 
Their being always in pairs is an error gene- 
rally current amongst botanists. The length 
of the leaves is about four inches, slightly 
waved, green on both sides alike, the tips of 
many of the branches retaining the leaves in 
their seedling state, which are about three-quar- 
ters of an inch long, proceeding singly from 
the twig. The leaves in this last state are of a 
pleasant sea-green colour. Buds are smaller 
than those of the pinaster, redder, and with- 
out resin. Cone from five to six inches 
lighter than those of the pinaster. Seeds 
three-quarters of an inch in length, encrusted 
with a thick bony case. 
This pine is scarcely known in England as 
a tree ; but in Italy, it assumes the majestic 
habit of the finest of our coniferas, having a 
tall straight trunk, and a thick branchy head, 
not unlike the Pinus Pinaster. Its charac- 
teristic appearance in landscapes has been 
sketched by Gilpin ; but there is every reason 
to suppose that his remarks were suggested 
by the pinaster, which, however, as seen in 
England, gives a very good idea of the former 
tree in its native habitations. It belongs 
naturally to Italy, Greece, Spain, and accord- 
ing to some authors, the southern parts of 
France, where it is found only in the neigh- 
bourhood of houses built for many years. It 
has been common in Britain for the last three 
hundred years ; and one of the best proofs of 
its being unsuited to this climate, either as a 
timber tree, or as a first-class ornamental 
plant, is found in the fact, that no lofty speci- 
men of it is noticed in the sylvan records of 
Britain. 
The plant is associated with the classics, 
chiefly on account of the delicious kernels of 
the fruit which were very much prized by 
the ancients. In their, preserved state, they 
