BOTANY. 
327 
attain a large size, upwards of sixty feet in height, with straight 
branchless trunks, thirty or forty feet long, and ten feet in circum- 
ference. One such specimen was recently sawn into timber at Plan- 
tation, and yielded, exclusive of the outside slabs, seventeen double 
deals and eleven pieces of squared timber, in all amounting to fifty- 
one cubic feet. The expense of sawing this tree, with a pair of ordi- 
nary sawyers, was 1)5*. ; as the market price of the same quantity 
of imported pine timber amounted to 200*., and considering that 
the Island Fir is equal in quality to Memel or Riga, while the im- 
ported is but an ordinary white pine- wood, it is a matter of surprise 
that the St. Helena Fir is seldom used excepting as firewood. 
Flowers in September and October. — Hab. Mediterranean region. 
673. P. Pinea, Linn. — The Stone Pine; grows to a large tree, 
and is pretty common on the high lands, at alt. 3 ‘4. In exposed situa- 
tions, as at Merrymans Hill, it appears dwarfed, but at Oaklands 
there are handsome trees of it, thirty feet in height, and each spread- 
ing over an area of three or four hundred square yards. It bears 
seeds freely, but they do not germinate so readily as those of 
P. Pinaster. — Hab. S. of Europe. 
674. P. sylvestris, Linn. — The Scotch Pine is much less 
abundant than the species Pinaster. — Hab. Europe. 
675. P. longifolia, Roxb. — Two or three fine trees of this 
very handsome Fir grow in the Island ; they may be found in the 
valley on the west side of Plantation House, attaining a height of 
sixty feet or more, and are easily distinguished by their fine long 
leaves and ashy-blue colour. They bear seeds freely, but they do 
not readily germinate. — Hab. E. Indies. 
676. P. densiflora, Sieb. — A small Fir, not very common, but 
found near the upper entrance gate to Terrace Knoll, near Friars 
Plain. M. Alt. 3. — Hab. Japan. 
677. P. canariensis, Sm. — A large handsome Fir, somewhat 
common amongst the other trees on the high land at Plantation, 
Oakbank, Prospect, &c. Bears seeds freely, which do not appear to 
germinate. — Plab. Canary Islands. 
678. P. rigida, Mill. — Hab. 
N. America. 
679. P. excelsa, Wall. — Hab. 
Nepal. 
In addition to the above, several Firs of great value, includin 
Two species of Fir recently in- 
troduced from the Royal Gar- 
dens at Kew. 
