50 THE WHITE PINE. 



any case, when the growth of timber is the primary object, domestic animals should be rigorously 

 excluded, as they are certain to do more or less injury to the growing trees. A pine forest, or a 

 forest of any kind, is no more properly a "run" for cattle than a field of standing grain, and the 

 damage is likely to be more extensive and less capable of repair in the former than in the latter 

 case. 



The White Pine shows considerable recuperative power, which is exhibited in the ready 

 reestablishment of broken leader and the healing of wounds, in which the prolific resin exudations 

 assist by keeping out water and fungi. 



The experiences of Mr. Nathaniel Morton, of Plymouth, Mass., in trimming pines, recorded 

 in The Forester (June, 1898), show the absolute safety of pruning live limbs of 3 to 5 inches and 

 more in diameter, which are covered in a few years by new growth (PI. XI). An interesting case 

 of pertinacity of life and recuperative power, which at the same time throws light on the much- 

 debated question of food and water movement in trees, is also reported from the same source, and 

 represented in fig. 4. 



A young pine in the forest was, two years ago, not only girdled, but the bark peeled off for 

 11 inches all around the tree. The tree has a perfectly healthy appearance, and has continued to 

 grow iu length, although apparently about half as fast as before. The measurements of internodes 

 of this tree during the last six years follow. The diameter growth above the wound has continued, 

 while below the wound it has remained stationary, as will appear from the measurements made 

 two years after the removal of the bark. 



Inches. 



Circumference near the ground 15 



Circumference just below the wound 11 



Circumference where bark is stripped 9J 



Circumference j ust above first row of branches 14 



Circumference above second row of branches 11 



The wound is entirely covered by pitch. The growth just above the wound has a baggy 

 appearance, showing an accumulation of wood deposit, which shows the arrest of the food 

 materials due to the absence of the cambium layer and bark. 



It would appear that the roots could either live without the food supply from above (at least 

 for two years), or else that a sufficient amount can pass through the dead wood of the trunk, and 

 at least the water necessary for the elaboration of food materials in the foliage can be supplied 

 through the old wood. The writer inspected this tree, and can vouch for the truthfulness of the 

 description A similar case with a southern pine (species undetermined) came to his attention, 

 where the tree was older and had grown over twenty years above the wound; but as only a cut 

 was inspected the possibility of a cambial connection of the upper and lower parts was not abso- 

 lutely excluded, as in the present case. 



INJURIES BY STORMS. 



Of injuries not within human control may be mentioned, first, those resulting from storms, 

 snow, and ice. The soft texture of the wood and the short-lived branches of the White Pine 

 would naturally suggest its being more liable to injury by storms than are deciduous trees. This, 

 however, is not the case. The angle which the branches make with the trunk admits of their 

 readily bending, and under such a weight it is found that Maples and other hardwood trees break 

 down much more frequently. Mr. B. F. Hoyt, of Manchester, Iowa, states that " a whole summer's 

 observation among the White Pines of Tennessee failed to reveal a single case in which a, tree of 

 that species was injured by the wind," attributing the fact to the mechanical disposition and 

 structure of the trunk and branches. 1 In this respect, then, the White Pine stands at a decided 

 advantage as compared with many deciduous trees with which it is naturally associated. 



Like the shallow-rooted Spruce, the White Pine is liable to be uprooted and thrown by storms, 

 although to a less degree. 



While, however, the mechanical effects of the wind and of storms of snow and ice are not 

 sufficient to require special consideration, the injurious consequences of drying winds are such as 



'American Naturalist, December, 1886. 



