CHARACTER OF DISTKIHUTION, HY REGIONS. 13 



III western A^'«' Yorl: tlio White Pine wii.s once qnitc alinndant as a (!<)n('Oinitant of tlic hard- 

 wood torest. Young growth is now {;r(M'i)ing' into every wood lot, while in l'cnu>itilrnin<i the White 

 Pine occurred undoubtedly in the lower eastern counties in coinniercial (|uantities as well as in the 

 adjoining counties of New Jersey, where it begins to be a tree of the mountains, the higluM- slopi-s, 

 ridges, atul tojjs becoming its favorite habitat. It is here largely associated with lIemlo(;k, whicii 

 often becomes the ijreponderaut tree. Pure piue growth is rare, but the mixed hardwood forest is 

 seldom without an admixture of White I'ine to tlie extent, as a rule, of about .'50 per cent numeri- 

 cally, the soils within the range of its occurrence being seemingly everywhere ((Uite favoraltle to 

 its growth. 



Besides the Hemlock, the coniferous species with which it is found associated are riteli i'ine 

 (I'inus riijida) and Spruce, while Ked Pine {Pini(s rcsinosa), the inost successful rival of tlie White 

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

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

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



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

 Pennsylvania, in Luzerue County the White Pine is situated along Bear Creek and its tributaries; 

 la Clinton County the pine is found on both branches of Hyner Run and along Youngwomans 

 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 primeval timber are left, wliicli would 

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

 White 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 million feet B. M. of White 

 Pine along Hickory Creek and its tributaries. 



The heavy cut of pine in Elk County came from Medix Run, 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 conditions. 



From Neiv Jerney the White Piue 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 frecjuent and 

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

 only in islands or in small bodies on the crests and along the slopes of the Alleghenies, 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. Ashd on the distribution in North Carolina (Bulletin No. G, North Carolina geological 

 survey, 1S98) are more or less applicable : 



Tho wooilland iu which White Pine is the doiuiuaut conifeioua tree is not extensive, but lies in isulateil. small 

 bodies along the crest and southern and eastern slopes of the Blue Kidge, or on the low hills on tho west, * 

 extensive forests seldom being found above the higher limit (3,000 feet in Maeou and .Jackson counties), or perfet^t 

 individual development attained below the lower (2,800 feet). In a few places ou tlie southern 8lci])e of the Mine 

 Hidge ' ' " the White Pine is associated with Yellow Pines as well as with diciduous trees, but the trees are 

 generally short- boled, and neither so large nor tall as those growing at a higher elevation to the west of this range. 

 Singh^ specimens or suuiU groups of trees are locally dispersed in the broad-leaf forests throughout the iimnutain 

 counties betwei'n the liuiits of altitude given above. 



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

 can hardly be expected to be of commercial or forestal value tor the future. 



The area of greatest (juantitative development is found around the Great Lakes and in the 

 basin of the St. Lawrence and its tributaries, in tlie very places most perfectly adapted to its 

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

 that are cai)ablt' of carrying logs, the accessibility of natural ports of distribution, and favorable 

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

 have thus become known as the great lumber region of the United States. 



