CHAKACTERISTICS OF THE WOOD OF SOUTHERN PINES. 



13 



To assist ill cifariny' tliis confusiou the following syiioijsis of botanical and vernacular names 

 is here inserted: 



NOMENCLATURE OF SOUTHERN PINES. 



While it is easy enough to recoguize the species in the field by their botanical cliaracters, it 

 is difiicult and often impossible to distinguish theiti in the wood by mere macroscopic inspection 

 or examination with the magnifier and without the aid of the microscope, nor are the miscroscopic 

 features so far recognized sufficient for specific distinction. 



A long-continued study of these woods by Mr. Filibert Roth, of the Division of Forestry, 

 has not developed any characteristics which would be always reliable in distinguishing the species. 

 The best that can be done is to give a synopsis of characters, by which they difl'er generally when 

 larger quantities, as in the log or himber pile, are under inspection. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WOOD OF SOUTHERN PINES. 



Diagnostic features of the wood. 



Kame of species. 



Lonsleaf Pine 

 (Pinus palutitrin Miller). 



Cuban Pine 

 (Pinut heUrophylla (Ell.) Sudw.). 



Specific gravity of f Poi^sible range .50 to .90 



kiln-dried wood. 1, ilost frequent range .55 to .65 



Weight, pouud.s per cubic foot, kiln-dried 36 



wooil, average. 



Character of grain seen in cross section j Fine and even ; annual rings quite uniformly 



narrow on large logs, averaging generally 

 I 20 to 25 rings to the incli. 



Color, general appearance Even dark reddish -yellow to reddish-brown. . 



Sapwood, proportion ! Little; rarely over 2 to 3 inches of radius 



Reain ' ^'ery abundant: parts often turning into 



I "iightwood;" pitchy throughout. 



.50 to .90 



.55 to .70 



37 



Variable and coarse; rings mostly wide, 



averaging on larger logs 10 to 20 rings to the 



inch. 

 Dark straw color, with tinge of tlesh color. 

 Broad. 3 to 6 inches. 

 Abundant, sometimes yielding more iiitch 



than Longleaf; "bleeds'" freely, yielding 



little scrape. 



Kama of species. 



Shortleaf Pine 

 {Pinus echinata Miller). 



Lobolly Pine 

 {Pinus tueda Linn.). 



Specific {gravity of / Possible range 



kiln-dried Avood. \ Most frequent range... 

 Weight, i)ounds per cubic foo.t, kiln-dried 



wood, average. 

 Character of grain seen in cross section 



Color, general appearance 



Sapwood, proportion 



Eesin 



.40 to .80 



.45 to .55 



30 



Very variable; medium, coarse; rings wide 

 near heart, followed by zone of narrow 

 rings; not less than 4 (mostly about in to 

 15) rinffs to the inch, but often very line- 

 ffrained. 



Whitish to reddish-brown 



Commonly 2 to 4 inches of radius 



Moderately abundant, least pitchy : only near 

 stumps, knots, and liuibs. 



.40 to .80 



.45 to .55 



31 



Variable, mostly rery coarse ; 3 to 12 rings to 



the inch, generally wider than in shortleaf. 



Yellowish to reddish and orange brown. 

 Very variable, 3 to 6 inches of the radius. 

 Abundant; more than Shortleaf, less than 



Longleaf and Cuban, but does not ''bleed" if 



tapped. 



