sists in fumigating the stocks early in February with the smoke of tobacco, and repeating this process in the green-house every fortnight, till they are removed to the open air of the garden.—Sprinkling the young plants with a decoction of wormwood, has also been found a very efficacious remedy against those destructive vermin.—See also Insects;—Propagation; and Seed.
Pipperidge-bush. See Berberries.
Pismire. See Ant.
Pisasphaltum. See vol. ii. p. 328.
PISTACHIA-TREE, or Pistacia terebinthus, L. is a native of Arabia, Persia, and Syria; where it grows to the height of 25 or 30 feet, and is cultivated on account of its fruit; which is imported into Europe, under the name of Pistachio Nuts.
This tree being seldom propagated in Britain, on account of its delicate nature, and the great attention it requires, we shall only observe, that its fruit is of the size of pease; has an unctuous and pleasant taste, somewhat similar to that of almonds; and abounds, like these, with a sweet and palatable oil, which is obtained by expression.—Pistachio nuts are reputed to be wholesome and nutritive: hence, persons reduced by long illness, may eat them with advantage, in moderate quantities, provided such oily food should not disagree with their digestive organs.—These nuts pay, on importation, the sum of 312d. per lb.
Pistol. See Gun and Fire-arms.
Pit-coal. See Coal.
PITCH, an adhesive gummy-resinous substance, which is prepared by inspissating Tar, or the liquid drawn from Fir and Pine-trees.
Considerable quantities of pitch are manufactured in Britain; but, as they are inadequate to the demand for this article in the building of ships, &c. the deficiency is supplied by foreign markets. The best pitch is imported from Sweden and Norway: it is of a glossy black colour; perfectly dry; uncommonly brittle; and generally employed by ship-builders:—being less pungent and bitter than tar, it is frequently used in medicine, and chiefly in the preparation of warm adhesive plasters. In some cases, however, it excites blisters, though in general it only reddens the part to which it is applied, and from which consequently exudes a slight degree of moisture. On account of these stimulating properties, plasters of pitch are often useful in colds, coughs, rheumatisms, and similar complaints.
Pitch-plaster is prepared by melting together six ounces of white resin, seven ounces of ship-pitch, and five ounces of yellow wax; and afterwards forming them into a plaster.—See Scald-head.
Pitch pays on importation the sum of 13s. 712d. per last of 12 barrels (each containing 3112 gallons), provided it be brought in British ships: but, in foreign vessels, it is subject to the duty of 14s. 412d. per last; or 12s. 112d. if imported from any of the British Plantations in America, or from any American State, in English ships.
PLAGUE, or Pestis, is one of the most fatal disorders that have often depopulated extensive regions of the earth: it is defined to be a very contagious, nervous fe-
