14 THE WHITE PINE. . 



In Michigan 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 containing only White Pine. Occasionally, and especially on the driest and poorest sandy 

 gravels, the Red Pine (Pinus reainosa) associates and sometimes predominates, the White Pine 

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

 Jack Pine (Pinus diraricata) takes the place of the Red Pine. 



The typical pine forest on fresh sandy soils consists of White Pine (45 to 55 per cent of the 

 dominant growth) mixed with Red Pine (25 to 45 per cent) with scattering Hemlock (10 to 15 per 

 cent) and occasional Fir and hardwoods. The undergrowth, usually moderately dense, consists 

 mainly of small Hemlock, Fir, and young hardwoods. 



On moister sand with loam or clay subsoil Hemlock and hardwoods replace the pines, the 

 Red Pine vanishing entirely and the White Pine occurring only in large isolated individuals. Into 

 wet or swampy places the White Pine also penetrates in single individuals among Arborvita?, 

 Hackmatack, and Spruce. 



As the loam in the composition of the soil increases, the hardwoods increase numerically, the 

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

 occasionally. Finally, the heavy clay soils toward the southern range of the species give absolute 

 preponderance or exclusive possession to the hardwoods, mainly Sugar Maple, Yellow Birch, 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 best in 1883, but now 

 the virgin pine is nearly cut out. Reproduction is satisfactory on the sandy areas wherever fires 

 are kept out, which is rare; on the clay-loam areas reproductionuuderthe shade of the hardwoods 

 is practically impossible. 



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

 as in Michigan. The accompanying map of the forest areas of Wisconsin, taken from Bulletin No. 

 16, of the Division of Forestry, will serve to give an idea of the manner in which this distribution 

 appears within the belt of best development. (See PI. III.) From this map it will be seen that 

 the distribution is to the largest extent dependent on soil conditions, the sandy soils representing 

 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 groves, represented almost entirely by mature old timber. Saplings, bushy young 

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

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

 the pine, while on the sandy or gravelly soils the pine holds its own and forms a fair proportion of 

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

 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 influencing the distribu- 

 tion of the White Pine. 



The conifers become preponderant over the hardwoods everywhere. Pines, both Red and 

 White, together with Tamarack (Larix laricina) and Arborvitre (Cedar Thuja occidental!*) and 

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

 be occupied by hardwoods. With this change in composition goes a decrease in development; 

 the sixes both in diameter and height are reduced. 



It is an interesting fact that both in Wisconsin and Minnesota the pine area does not, as in 

 the eastern field of distribution, gradually fade out toward the prairie, but the true pine woods 

 cease abruptly within 30 or 40 miles at most from the demarcation line of the prairie, leaving the 

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



In the Canadian extension of the species pure pinery is very rare. The great bulk of the 

 most productive pine country lies northward and westward from the mouth of the Ottawa River 

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

 Arborvitie (Cedar), and Balsam, while the lower tiers of Ontario are of the same character of 

 hardwoods, with little scattering pine, as in southern Michigan. The eastern extension of the 



