PIN 
PLA 
wards, close to the trunk; the leaves 
are more glaucous, of a lighter green, 
shorter and broader than those of the 
species, or more common varieties; the 
bark also is smoother, and the cones 
thicker and blunt; it is more hardy, and 
grows much faster, arriving at a useful 
size several years before any other of the 
genus ; it is also an excellent nurse for 
plantations of other trees, and even for 
poles it will be found second only to the 
larch. Among the more strictly orna¬ 
mental portion of the genus. P. palustris 
is remarkable for its singular foliage, 
hanging in tufts of near a foot in length. 
Equally conspicuous, in a similar way, is 
the P. longifolia , a very handsome and 
picturesque tree, but unfortunately too 
tender to bear our climate, except in very 
sheltered spots. P. cembra and P. Strobus, 
the Siberian and Weymouth pines, are 
both esteemed for ornament and use, 
the latter is especially esteemed for 
masts ; in America it grows to an enor¬ 
mous size. Next to this in value, for 
similar purposes, is the pitch pine (P. 
resinosa), which attains a great height, 
and grows very straight; Pirns inops , the 
Jersey pine, and its varieties ; P. Banks- 
iana, the scrub pine; and P. Pwnilio, 
with its varieties, are all of dwarf spread¬ 
ing habit; some of them, when growing 
on poor soil in exposed places, assume 
quite a decumbent habit, though the 
removal to a richer land induces a stronger 
and erect growth, so as to completely 
alter their character. P. pinea, the stone 
pine, produces a very large cone, and in 
Italy, where the tree is most abundant, 
the seeds are very generally eaten; they 
are sweet, with a slight taste of turpen¬ 
tine. P. Teeda is by some considered the 
most valuable species; it has larger 
cones than even the last, with long 
leaves, a robust habit, and very resinous 
sound wood. The remainder of the 
genus are all desirable, at least as orna¬ 
mental objects, and in England, except 
in a few elevated spots, little more can 
be expected of any of the tribe; our soil 
is too rich and climate too moist to grow 
good timber from coniferous trees, all of 
which require mountain air and poor soil 
to form sound durable wood. Eor raising 
and general culture of the genus we may 
vpfpy* I-A'RT'PQ 
PIPTANTHUS (Sweet.) Nat. Ord. 
Leguminosoe. The only species (P. ne- 
palensis ) is a very handsome shrub, and, 
notwithstanding the fugacious character 
of its flowers, deserves more extensive 
cultivation. It is deciduous, and hardy 
enough to bear our climate in all but the 
exposed situations; the showy yellow 
blossoms, which last only one day, are 
produced in succession through May. 
Increased by seeds, cuttings, or layers. 
PISTACHIA (Linn.) Nat. Order, 
Terebintliacece. Erom P. vera the pista- 
chia nuts of Sicily are obtained, and 
P. terebintlius furnishes the Cyprus tur¬ 
pentine. Both these trees succeed with 
us, when planted against a south wall, 
and trained somewhat in the manner of 
peaches. The plants are dioecious, and 
consequently both male and female spe¬ 
cimens must be grown to produce fruit. 
The flowers are borne in loose bunches, 
proceeding from the sides of the previous 
year’s branches, and to ensure the set¬ 
ting of the fruit the male flowers should 
be cut and stuck into a pot of moist 
mould suspended over the female plant; 
or the former may be budded upon the 
female, and thus the two kinds grown 
together. There are two varieties of 
'cera; none of the genus, however, can 
be regarded as ornamental objects, and if 
grown at all, it must be either for their fruit 
or botanical interest. P. terebinthus, and 
its variety, sphcerocarpa, are rather more 
hardy, and may be planted as standards 
in sheltered places. Increased by layers 
or cuttings struck under a hand-glass. 
PLANERA (Michaux.) Nat. Order, 
Ulmacere. A small genus, containing two 
species very closely allied to the elm, from 
which perhaps it is not generically dis¬ 
tinct. They are deciduous bushes, or low 
trees, growing in common soil, and suit¬ 
able only for the arboretum. Increased 
by layers, or grafting upon the common 
elm. 
PLANTANUS, Plane tree (Linn.) 
Nat. Ord. Amentacece. These are noble 
timber trees, with erect trunks, spreading 
ads, and large bright green leaves; 
rticularly effective either as single spe- 
