CHARACTER OF DISTRIBUTION, UY ItK(;iONS. 13 



In western Xeir Yuri: the White Pine was once quite aluuidant as a concoinitaiit of tlic hard- 

 wood forest. Young growth is now creeping into every wood h)t, whih' in I'ciiiiniilr(tHi(( the Wliite 

 Pine occurred undoubtedly in the lower eastern counties in conunercial <|uantities sis well as in the 

 adjoining counties of Xeic Jersci/, where it begins to be a tree of tlie mountains, the higher slopes, 

 ridges, and tops becoming its favorite habitat. It is liere largely associated with Hemlock, which 

 often becomes the preponderant tree, i'ure pine growtli is rare, but the mixed liardwood forest is 

 seldom without an admixture of White IMne to the extent, as a rule, of about 30 per cent numeri- 

 cally, tlie soils within the range of its orcurrence being seemingly everywhere quite favorable to 

 its grow til. 



Besides tlie Hemlock, the coniferous species with which it is found associated are fitch Pine 

 (Pi)iKf! ri(/iiht) and Spruce, while lied Pine {PiuKs ri'sinosH), the most successful rival of the White 

 Pine in the lake region, is here rarely met, and then only in single individuals. The hardwoods 

 most frequently represented are Maple, Beech, and Birch, more rarely Oak and Chestnut, with 

 Basswood, Cucumber, Hickory, Cherry, etc., interspersed in single individuals. 



The best develoi)ment of the White Pine is usually found along the water courses. Thus, in 

 Pennsylvania, in liUzerne Ctmnty the White Pine is situated along Bear Creek and its tributaries; 

 in Clinton County the pine is found on both branches of llyner Run and along Yonngwoniaus 

 Creek; in Clearfield County there were 20,000 acres along Sandy Creek and its tributaries heavily 

 timbered with White Pine, of which about 2,000 acres of priuieval timber are left, which would 

 cut about 100 million feet B. M. of White Pine. In Jefferson County a tract of Headock and 

 Wliite Pine forest of about 90 square miles, known as the Hay's tract, is traversed by the North 

 Fork and its tributaries. In Forest County the areas heavily covered with pine were situated 

 along Hickory and Tionesta creeks. There is as yet standing over 100 milliou feet B. M. of White 

 Pine along Hickory Creek and its tributaries. 



The heavy cut of pine in Elk County came from Medix Eun, Dents Run, and their tributaries. 

 The courses of the streams follow the trend of the ridges, the substrata of which are usually of a 

 porous nature, consisting in most cases of slate or laminated shale, a soil very favorable to pine 

 situated on moderately elevated grounds and slopes along the hollows and gorges, which, on 

 account of the pervious substratum, offer most satisfactory soil-moisture coiulitions. 



From Reic Jersey the White Pine has practically vanished long ago as a factor in lumber 

 production, and almost as a tree of common occurrence. 



With the extension of the distribution southward, the White Pine becomes less frequent and 

 of inferior development; the climate forces it to higher and higher altitudes. It occurs in quantity 

 onlj' in islands or in small bodies on the crests aud along the slopes of the Allegheuies, both east 

 and west, usually accompanying water courses in broader or narrower belts. 



Regarding the manner of occurrence of the White Pine in these southern regions, the remarks 

 of Mr. W. W. Ashe on the distribution in Xorth Carolina (Bulletin No. 0, North Carolina geological 

 survey, 1898) are more or less applicable : 



The woodlaud iu which White Pine is the dominaut coniferous tree is not extensive, but lies in isolated, small 

 bodies along the crest and southern and eastern slopes of the Blue Ridgo, or on the low hills on the west, • • • 

 extensive forests seldom being found above the higher limit (3,000 feet in Macon and Jackson counties), or perfect 

 individual development attained below the lower (2,800 feet). In a few places on the southern slope of the Blue 

 Ridge ■ " ' the White Pino is as.oeiated with Yellow Pines as well as with deciduous trees, liut the trees are 

 generally short-boled, and neiiher so large nor tall as those growing at a higher elevation to the west of this range. 

 .Single specimens or smail groups of trees are locally .dispersed in the broad-leaf forests throughout the niouutain 

 counties between the limits of altituile given above. 



It appears from these statements that in these latitudes below the 2,000-foot level this ])ine 

 can hardly be expected to be of coinuicrcial or forestal v'alue for the future. 



The area of greatest quantitative development is found around the Great Lakes aud in the 

 basin of the St. Lawrence and its tributaries, in the very places most i)erfectly adapted to its 

 ready and economical exploitation and easy shipment to markets, the large number of streams 

 that are capabh^ of carrying logs, the accessibility of natural ports of distribution, aud favorable 

 climatic conditions inviting the lugger and lumberman. Michigan, Wisconsin, aud Minnesota 

 have thus become known as the great lumber region of the T'nited States. 



