CONIFERS. THE PINUS, OR PINE TREE. 
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were found in the provision rooms of Pompeii 
and Herculaneum ; and throughout Italy, they 
are yet used along with raisins and almonds 
for dessert. Its wood is much inferior to the 
timber produced by other pines that grow 
twice as rapidly, so that it will never attain to 
any eminence in that respect. In English 
shrubberies, it forms a full-bodied spreading 
bush, and has a good effect in secluding places 
near to rock-work. The seeds may be pur- 
chased in London, at about 2s. per lb., and 
the best way to treat them is to steep them 
in rather hot water for two or three days pre- 
viously to sowing them. The time for sow- 
ing is the middle of April ; and it is important 
to remember that the soil in which they are 
placed should be kept rather moist with warm 
water for six weeks, when they will appear 
above ground. Where convenient, a bottom 
heat is recommended; for, on account of the 
hard shells in which they are enveloped, they 
require a good deal of excitement to start 
them. The young plants are somewhat tender, 
and should be kept protected during winter 
in a frame well matted over ; or in the open 
ground, by having branches with leaves on, 
stuck closely around them. They require to 
be shifted from place to place every two years, 
otherwise they form a hard and fibreless tap- 
root, which fails to support them on their 
removal. If in pots, they require shifting all 
the same. When finally removed, they should 
be planted deep, and staked, so as to resist the 
wind. 
Varieties. — P. P. fragilis. — A variety ex- 
tensively cultivated in Naples for the sake of 
the seed, which is enveloped in a thin and 
tender shell. The kernel is eaten by the in- 
habitants, and is sweet and agreeable. The 
thin and tender shell forms the only distinctive 
difference when compared with the common 
plant. 
P. P. cretica. — Leaves smaller, finer, and 
rather more abundant than in the species. 
P. P. americana. — A plant in no respect 
differing from the P. Pinea ; which, having 
been sent from America, was reckoned at least 
to be a variety. As Lindley observes, no tree 
has accompanied Europeans so closely as the 
Stone pine (from the seeds being edible) and 
this will account for old trees having been 
found in the new world, where it is not in- 
digenous. 
Pinus austriaca, Hoss (Austrian or black 
Pine.) — Leaves two in a sheath, keeping to- 
gether when the tree is young, three to four 
inches in length, twisted, bluntly-pointed, 
green all over alike. Buds about an inch in 
length, reddish-brown. Cones of the shape 
of those of P. sylvestris, of a light-brown 
colour, smooth and shining. 
A native of the mountains of Austria, grow- 
ing to the height of sixty and seventy feet. 
The wood of this tree has the reputation of 
being very enduring ; and in withstanding the 
effects of alternate moisture and dryness, it is 
said to equal the larch. The price at which 
plants are sold (7s. Qd. per 1000 for one year 
seedlings, and 15s. for two-years' seedlings), 
renders it within the reach of every planter ; 
and as it is now (1846) planted extensively in 
Scotland, a fair trial will be given to it. It is 
very necessary to watch this pine during the 
first few years of its growth, lest it should 
assume the habit of a bush merely. It is very 
apt to do so when potted, but in the free 
ground, it generally furnishes itself with a 
strong tap root, and a good leader. No pine 
excels this one in producing turpentine; and 
its roots are used in the same way as those of 
the Scotch pine, as a substitute for candles. 
At Rozelle in Ayrshire, Mr. Locke states, 
that comparing this tree with the Scotch pine, 
the former was found, in all soils and situa- 
tions in which it was tried, to take the lead 
in every instance. His only objection to the 
more extended planting of this truly fine tree, 
is the avidity with which it is devoured by 
game when first planted out. In order to 
obviate this, he recommends that the plants 
should be protected in a nursery till they are 
strong, and about eighteen inches in height- 
Seeds may be obtained at 4s. per lb. 
Pimcs Laricio, Poiret (Corsican or Larch 
Pine). — Leaves, generally two in a sheath, 
long, waved, frizzled, abundant, and of a deep 
green. Cones of the shape of P. sylvestris, 
two to three inches in length, with rugged 
truncated scales. Buds long, and particularly 
sharp, resinous, yet not covered with exuda- 
tion. A native of the mountains of Corsica, 
Spain, Greece, and Turkey, attaining some- 
times to the height of one hundred and fifty 
feet. 
A noble tree destined to occupy an impoi'- 
tant station in the British Sylva. When 
planted in groves, this pine bids fair to grow to 
the height of one hundred feet ; but in very 
exposed situations, it is apt to change its 
leading shoot, which no doubt arises from 
the topmost bud being injured by the cold. 
According to the testimony of many planters, 
this tree excels all others in the rapidity of 
its growth, which is frequently, in its young 
state, at the rate of two and a half feet in the 
year. It certainly does not carry that degree 
of thickness along with its height, which 
most pines do; for even when in the enjoy- 
ment of free air on all sides, it has the 
appearance of a plant which had been drawn 
up for want of space. The trial which has 
been made of this tree throughout Britain, 
does not justify its being recommended for 
sandy and barren tracts of land in very 
