PINUS CEMBRA. 
5 
country was probably due to the Rev. J. Harte, who, in 1746, publifhed “ Effays on Husbandry,” in which 
it was ftrongly recommended. Archibald, Duke of Argyll, in the fame year, planted a number of trees at 
Whitton, from one of which the dimenfions above-mentioned were taken. Numerous plants introduced 
about the end of laft century are to be feen at Walcot Hall, near Shrewsbury; and at Gledhow, near 
Leeds, many trees were planted at the fame time, probably both being part of a large importation of 
feeds, mentioned by Lambert as having been then made. Thefe latter trees attradted the notice of horti- 
culturifts more than thofe at Whitton or Walcot Hall, and procured for the fpecies the provincial fynonym 
of the Gledhow Pine. In 1837, Loudon mentions that thefe trees were of fmall dimenfions, molt of them 
going to decay; their height being only 35 feet, after having been planted 45 to 50 years. 
In 1828 Mr Lawfon brought from Switzerland fome feeds which he difperfed throughout Scotland for 
experiment, and in 1833 we imported the firft large fupply of feed which had been brought to this country 
in the prefent century. From that importation many places, both in Scotland and England, which 
now poffefs fine young trees, were fupplied. Those at Hopetoun Houfe and at Ormiffon Hall are 
efpecially worthy of attention. 
Properties and U/es .—The fragrance of this tree is delightful, whether fmelt in paffmg through its 
forefts or merely from hand fpecimens of branches, or even from the wood itfelf; and the perfume, 
although fo agreeable to man, is faid to be fo offenfive to bugs or moths as to deter them from infefting 
rooms where it is ufed. It endures alfo for years, Kafthofer fays for centuries. An apartment wainfcoted 
with Cembra, or, more moderate hill, a library with its fhelves of that wood !—hoc erat in votis ; but in this 
country trees large enough for this purpofe are not to be had, or at leaf! are not to be cut down; and 
importations from the Alps are expenfive. The heart-wood is of an agreeable light-brown colour, and 
very foft and eafily worked. It is of it that the paper-cutters and little pieces of ornamental wood-carving 
from the Righi are made; and the well-known little Swifs toy figures of men and animals are carved out of 
it by the fhepherds of the Cantons and the Tyrol. For the more ferious wants of life it is chiefly ufed 
for upholffery and carpentry work. 
Its feeds are good to eat, having a pleafant nutty flavour; and are not only eaten by the common people 
in the diftridts where it abounds, but are there alfo placed on the tables of the rich as a deffert, either 
fhelled or in their nuts. We read that in Siberia the feeds are fometimes produced in immenfe quantities, 
when the peafants almoft live upon them during the winter; in other feafons fcarcely a cone is to be found. 
Loudon narrates that the feeds are ufed medicinally, and refers to a ftory related by Gmelin of two 
captains of veffels who were fuffering dreadfully from fcurvy, and whofe crew had almoft all died of that 
difeafe, being cured in a few days by eating abundantly of thefe feeds. As the fame refult would have 
followed the abundant ufe of any other frefh vegetable, this can fcarcely be cited as a property peculiar 
to the Cembra, and it is therefore unneceffary to wafte time in fettling whether the adtual cure was effected 
by feeds of the true Cembra or of the P. Mand/hurica , which Gmelin reckoned as only a variety of it. 
An oil is expreffed from thefe feeds, which in the Tyrol, &c., is ufed both as an article of or addition 
to food and for lamps. It is faid to be yielded in great abundance, double the quantity (5 oz.) being 
obtained from a pound of its feed which can be produced from a pound of flax feed (2! oz.) It has a very 
agreeable flavour when newly made, but foon becomes rancid. 
The fhells of the feeds when digefted in fpirits yield a fine red colour. 
&iltitre .—The climate of Britain agrees well with this tree, although here it grows neither fo rapidly 
as, nor has it yet reached the fize of, the mature trees in its native countries. Mr Palmer’s tables fhew that 
none were injured during the winter of i860. In its own mountains it grows in the very pooreft foils, 
and on the bareft rocks, where it would almoft feem impoffible for it to obtain a hold for its roots; but 
when it can get it, it by no means diflikes a good rich foil. It likes a dry fubfoil. The following are the 
j 5 ] c dimenfions 
