THE PINE. 271 



I have found very useful for decorative purposes. 

 Their bold, vigorous outlines can scarcely be excelled 

 by the palm leaf. 



The needles, five to seven inches long, grow in 

 pairs. They are roundish, straight, and dark green. 

 The cones are two or two and a half inches 

 Ions, and their scales are not furnished with 

 prickles. They usually grow in clusters. 

 The bark of the trunk is very ruddy, and 

 even the branchlets are smooth and red. So 

 the tree may easily be identified without 

 the aid of the needles. 



The Norway pine grows to 

 a height of from 50 to 90 feet ; 

 it is very common, particular- 

 ly on the worn-out pasture 

 lands, in the southern districts 

 of the White Mountains, and 



Norway Pine cone and needle. 



it is found from Massachu- 

 setts westward to Minnesota. The wood is hard, 

 durable, not very resinous, and is well adapted to 

 construction requiring unusual strength. It makes a 

 fine flooring, although it has not the beautiful grain 

 of the yellow pine. As an ornamental tree the young 

 red pine has few equals ; but I must not say too much 

 about this, lest, by provoking comparisons, some in- 

 justice will be done another equally beautiful pine. 

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