268 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



is less common here than farther north, where, however, it 

 never forms extensive forests, and only appears in isolated 

 clumps of a few hundred trees, either growing singly, or 

 mixed with the more common conifers of the North. The 

 fact that it is found growing spontaneously in different parts 

 of this State, and the excellent results which the occasional 

 experiments in its cultivation here already promise, prove 

 that the red pine is well adapted to our soil and climate. 



It is doubtful if red-pine lumber now ever reaches the 

 large eastern markets, so rare is this tree becoming in the 

 New-England States ; but large quantities are still exported 

 from Canada to Great Britain, where it is highly valued. 

 A recent English writer on timber, speaking of the Canada 

 red pine as it appears in the English markets, says, " The 

 wood is white, tinged with yellow or straw-color : it is tough, 

 elastic, moderately strong, and possesses a clear, fine grain, 

 which works up well, bearing upon the surface a smooth, 

 silky lustre. It is not apt to shrink, split, or warp much in 

 seasoning ; and, technically speaking, it stands well, which 

 renders it a choice and very valuable wood for all kinds of 

 construction, while in the domestic arts there need not be 

 any limit to its application." ^ As compared with white pine, 

 red pine is heavier (the author quoted above gives its spe- 

 cific gravity as .553 ; that of white pine, as .435 ; and that of 

 the common New-England pitch-pine, as .659), much stronger 

 and stiffer, and, from the greater amount of resinous matter 

 which it contains, more durable, although less easily worked, 

 and less adapted to interior finish or fancy-work. 



As an ornamental tree the red pine is destined to take a 

 high place. Its rapid growth, clean, red-barked stem, and 

 feathery foliage, make it the most ornamental of the two- 

 leaved pines, of which the Austrian and the Scotch are the 

 most commonly planted, although greatly inferior to their 

 little-known American relative. The red pine will succeed 

 in any soil which will produce the white or the pitch pine, 

 although in the valley of the Saco, and around the base of 

 the White Mountains, I have found it associated almost en- 

 tirely with the former. 



The value of the red pine for both economic and ornamen- 

 tal plantations is now well understood, and the impossibility 



1 Timber and Timber-Trees. — Laslett, p. 271. 



