my pocket full to burn. They make a fine clear flame.

Tut. Well-do you know where the seeds lie in them?

Geo. No-have they any?

Tut. Yes-at the bottom of every scale lie two winged seeds; but when the scales open, the seeds fall out; so that you can seldom find any in those you pick up.

Har. Are the seeds good for any thing?

Tut. There is a kind of Pine in the South of Europe called the Stone Pine, the kernels of which are eaten, and said to be as sweet as an almond. And birds pick out the seeds of other sorts, though they are so well defended by the woody scales.

Har. They must have good strong bills then.

Tut. Of this tribe of trees a variety of species are found in different-coun

tries, and are cultivated in this. But the only kind native here, is the Wild Pine or Scotch Fir. Of this there are large natural forests in the Highlands of Scotland; and the principal plantations consist of it. It is a hardy sort fit for barren and mountainous soils, but grows slowly.

Geo. Pray what are those very tall trees, that grow in two rows before the old hall in our village?

Tut. They are the Common or Spruce Fir, a native of Norway, and other northern countries, and one of the loftiest of the tribe. But observe those trees that grow singly in the grounds opposite to us with wide spread branches spreading downwards, and trailing on the ground, thence gradu. ally lessening, till the top of the tree ends almost in a point.

Har. What beautiful trees!

Tut. They are the Pines called

Larches, natives of the Alps and Apennines, and now frequently planted to decorate our gardens. These are not properly evergreens, as they shed their leaves in winter, but quickly recover them again. Then we have besides, the Weymouth Pine, which is the tallest species in America-the Silver Fir, so called from the silvery hue of its foliage -the Pinaster-and a tree of ancient fame the Cedar of Lebanon.

Geo. I suppose that is a very great

tree.

Tut. It grows to a large size, but is very slow in coming to its full growth. Geo. Are Pines and Firs very useful

trees?

Tut. Perhaps the most so of any. By much the greatest part of the wood used among us comes from them.

Har. What-more than from the Oak?

Tut. Yes, much more. Almost all

the timber used in building houses, for floors, beams, rafters, and roofs, is Fir. Geo. Does it all grow in this country?

Tut. Scarcely any of it. Norway, Sweden, and Russia, are the countries from which we draw our timber, and a vast trade there is in it. You have seen timber-yards?

Geo. O yes several.

Tut. In them you would observe some very long thick beams, called balks. These are whole trees, only stripped of the bark and squared. You would also see great piles of planks and boards, of different lengths and thickness. Those are called' deal, and are brought over ready sawn from the countries where they grow. They are of different colours. The white are chiefly from the Fir-tree; the yellow and red from the Pine.

Har. I suppose there must be great

forests of them in those countries, or else they could not send us so much.

Tut. Yes. The mountains of Norway are overrun with them, enough for the supply of all Europe; but on account of their ruggedness, and the want of roads, it is found impossible to get the trees, when felled, down to the sea coast, unless they grow near some river.

Geo. How do they manage them? Tut. They take the opportunity when the rivers are swelled with rains or melted snow, and tumble the trees into them, when they are carried down to the mouths of the rivers, where they are stopped by a kind of pens.

Har. I should like to see them swimming down the stream.

Tut. Yes it would be curious enough; for in some places these torrents roll over rocks, making steep water-falls, down which the trees are carried headlong, and often do not rise