The stone pine (Pin us l'inca), a tree with a broad umbrella-shaped head, forms a character istic feature of the scenery of the 1\ lediterrallean, and is very often introduced in paintings. It is the Pinir of the Cermans, the pignon of the French. The seeds, which do not ripen till the fourth year, are large, abound in a fixed oil. and when fresh! have a sweet taste resembling that of almonds, like whiell they are used in 'Italy and other countries. 'Plieir use, however, is almost entirely eonfined to the eountries in which they are produced, as they very soon become rancid. The wood is useful and beautiful. The Cembra pine or Swiss pine (Pinits grows in the central parts of Europe and the south of Siberia, is a stately tree. with more persistent lower branches than in most pines. It has rigid ill groups of three to five and produces edible seeds (eembra nuts), which. although ex tracted with diflieulty, are rilueli used in Siberia. this fruit being so nmeli prized that trees are often cut down to obtain it, The eembra pine n pellucid, whitish oil, resembling oil of turpentine. and known as Carpathian balsam. The Ilimalaya mountains abound in pines. some
of which rival in magnificence those of North west America. The Rhotan pine (l'inus excelso), much resembling the white pine in botanical char acters, and attaining a height of :10 to 120 feet, abound, in Bhotan, but is nut found in the neigh boring countries of Sikkim and Nepal. The wood is durable, close-grained, and so resinous as to be used for flambeaux and candle,. The cheer pine (Maas lonyifolia) of India. where it is often cultivated as an ornamental tree, is of graceful appearance. It is abundant on the crests of hills in the lower Himalayas, growing at a lower elevation than other pines. It is much valued for its resin, and the WI1011 is used in India as a substitute for European deal. Of the European species introduced into the United States. the Scotch pine has proved best adapted to the climate and soils. It is frequently planted as an ornamental. Loririo has been duced into the United States, and its variety austriara, known as the Austrian pine. appears especially adapted to the prairie regions. The dwarf pine (Pinas Pamiho) is au alpine species whose steins are usually prostrate.