14 THE WHITE PINE. 



Ill Michitjitn the distribution of the species is entirely controlled by the character of the soil, 

 all sandy areas being pinery proper, with large areas of pure growth of several square miles in 

 extent containin^f only White Pine. Oceasionally, and e.s])ecially on tlie driest and jxjorest .sandy 

 gravels, the Keel Pine (I'iiiiin nsino.sa) associates and sometimes predominates, the Wiiite ]'ine 

 not representing more than 10 to 20 per cent of the number of trees. In tlie noitliein regions 

 Jack Pine (Pinus dintrlcdtd) takes the place of the IJed Pine. 



The ty|)ica] jjine forest on fresh sandy soils consists of White Pine (45 to 5.5 i)er cent of the 

 dominant growth) mixed with Red Pine {'2'i to 4."» per cent) with scattering Ilenilock (10 to 1.5 i)er 

 cent) and o(-easional Fir and hardwoods. The undergrowth, usually moderately dense, consists 

 mainly of small Hemlock, Fir, and young hardwoods. 



On inoister sand with loam or day subsoil Hemlock and hardwoods lejilace the jjiiies. the 

 lied Pine vanishing entirely and the White I'ine occurring only in large isolated individuals. Into 

 wet or swampy places the White Pine also iienetrates in single individuals among Arborvitie, 

 IIackm<itacl<, and Si)rn(!e. 



As the loam in the com|)()sition of the soil increases, the hardwoods increase numerically, the 

 White Pine occurring only in single individuals and groups, and lied Pine and Hemlock only 

 occasionally. Finally, the heavy (-lay soils toward the southern range of the species give absolute 

 preponderance or exc-lusive possession to the hardwoods, mainly Sugar j\Iai)le, Yellow Uirch, and 

 Beech, although occasionally White Pine appears scattered, or even in smaller or larger groups. 



Lumbering of White Pine in Michigan began about 1835, and was at its l)estin ISS.'J, but now 

 the virgin pine is nearly cut out. Iteproduction is satisfacttjry on the sandy areas wherever tires 

 are kept out, which is rare; on the clay-loam areas reproduction under the shade of the h aid woods 

 is practically impossible. 



In Wisconsin the same dependence on soil conditions in the distribution of the species prevails 

 as in ^lichigan. The accom])anyingmap of the forest areas of Wisconsin, taken from Bulletin No. 

 1(5, of the Division of Forestry, will serve to give an ic'.ea of the manner in which this distribution 

 ap])ears within the belt of best develoiimeiit. (See PI. III.) From this maj) it will be seen that 

 the distribution is to the largest extent dependent on soil conditions, the sandy soils i-e])reseuting 

 the pinery areas, in which merchantable hardwoods and Hemlocks are wanting; the loam and clay 

 areas are stocked with the hardwood forest, in which both Hemlock and Pine occur scattering or 

 in isolated gi-oves, repi-esented almost entirely by mature old timber. Sai)lings, bushy young 

 trees, and seedlings are comjiaratively scarce, an active reproduction of the pine evidently not 

 going on. Tiiis condition is found especially on the heaviest soils, where the hardwoods crowd out 

 the i)ine, while on the sandy or gravelly soils the ])ine holds its own and forms a fair proi)ortion of 

 the sapling timber. In the true pinery of the sandy soils the hardwoods are scantily representetl 

 by small White Birch, Aspen, and Maple. The Hemlock is entirely wanting. On the barrens 

 proper the White Pine is replaced by Jack Pine and Red Pine, one, or both together, forming 

 forests of considerable extent, usually with hardly any undergrowth or admixture save some' 

 scattering Scrub Oak. 



In Minnesota climatic conditions again begin to assert themselves in iiilluencing the distribu- 

 tion of the White Pine. 



The conifers become ])reponderant over the hardwoods everywhere. Pines, liotli Bed and 

 White, together with Tamarack (Lari.v laricinn) and Arborvita- (Cedar — Thuja occitJcntalis) and 

 some admixture of Spruce occupy those sites, both swamp and dry lands, which elsewhere would 

 be occu|)ied by hardwoods. With this change in composition goes a decrease in development; 

 the sizes both in diameter and height are reduced. 



It is an interesting fact that both in Wisconsin and INIinnesota the i)ine area does not, as in 

 the eastern field of distribution, gradually fade out toward the ]>rairie, but the true i)iiie woods 

 cease abruptly within .JO or 4(t miles at most from the demarcation line of the i)rairie, leaving the 

 intervening ground to Birch and Aspen or Scrubby Oak and .lack Pine openings. 



In the Canadian extension of the sjiecies ]inre pinery is very rare. The great bulk of the 

 most productive i)ine country lies northward and westward from the mouth of tiie Ottawa Biver 

 to (leorgian Bay in mixed growth, which consists mainly of hardwoods, with Hemlock, Spruce, 

 Arborvit;e (Cedar), and Balsam, while the lower tiers of Ontario are of the same character of 

 hardwoods, with little scattering pine, as in southeru INIichigan. The eastern extension of the 



