The Trees of Vermont 



41 



PITCH PINE. PirMS rigida Mill. 



The pitch pine is one of the more southern species, and is nearly at its 

 northern limit in Vermont. The pines all flourish in light soils, but the 

 pitch pine seems to thrive best in dry barren sand plains. In such locations 

 it occurs abundantly in the northern parts of the Champlain valley, es- 

 pecially along the lower courses of the VVinooski, Lamoille and Missisquoi 

 rivers. It is also scattered along the Connecticut river valley. 



In suitable places it forms dense groves of small trees, forty to sixty feet 

 in height. The individual trees are sometimes picturesque but not graceful 

 or otherwise very attractive in appearance. The branches of even the 

 smaller trees mature numerous cones, which are long persistent. They are 

 about two inches long and have the scales tipped with sharp recurved 

 prickles, a character which may aid in the recognition of the species. 



The wood is hard and resinous. Turpentine and tar were formerly ob- 

 tained from it in New England. This resinous quality adds to its value as 

 a fuel and for kindling wood. This is the principal use made of it at pres- 

 ent. : 



JACK PINE (gray 



OR SCRUB pine). Fimis divaricata (Ait) Du Mort., 

 P. Banksiana Lamb. 



The gray pine is the smallest of the Vermont pines with sprawling 

 habit and short stout leaves, giving the tree a bristly, stunted appearance. 

 Its characteristic cones are pointed and curved toward the main axis of 

 the stem, often partially encircling it. The gray pine is a northern species 

 extending to the Arctic region, and the line of its southeastern limit passes 

 through northern Vermont. It is one of the rarest of our trees, and but few 

 specimens are known to occur in the state. Mr. Rowland E. Robinson 

 of Ferrisburgh discovered a small grove of it in 1860. Scattered trees 

 have since been found in Monkton, Starksboro and Fairfax. It probably 

 occurs in other places in northern Vermont. The remaining trees should 

 be sought out and spared because of their scientific interest. 



TAMARACK (hacmatack, LARCH ). Larix laucina (Du Roi), Koch., L. 



Americana Mich. 

 The tamarack is our only cone bearing tree which drops its leaves in 

 the autumn. It is an attractive, conical tree, its graceful form and full clus- 

 ters of slender, delicate leaves giving it well- 

 marked individuality. Its deep red fleshy 

 cones, which open in June, resemble flower 

 clusters. 



The wood is coarse grained but very 

 strong and remarkably durable in contact 

 with the soil. This fact gives it especial 

 value for fence posts, telegraph and telephone 

 poles and railway ties, much of the Vermont 

 tamarack being used for these purposes. It 

 is also used for dock planking. 



The tamarack occurs commonly through- 

 out the state. While it is usually found in 



TAMARACK 

 Branchlet and cone, X Vi 



