MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



PITCH PINE (Pinus rigida Mill.) 



THE Pitch Pine grows in poor, sandy and gravelly 

 soil in all parts of the State, often forming a con- 

 siderable tract of almost pure growth, as in the south- 

 eastern sections near the coast. 



In habit it is usually a low tree with irregular and 

 variable outline. Normally, the height is from thirty 

 to forty feet and the diameter from one to two feet. 

 The trunk is continuous, straight and tapers rapidly. 

 The branches, grouped in threes about the trunk, are 

 thick and 

 often c o n - 

 torted. The 

 bark on 

 young stems 

 and branches 

 is rough. On 

 old trees it 

 is deep gray 

 or reddish- 

 brown, and 

 irregularly 

 divided into 

 broad, flat, 

 continuous 

 ridges. The 



leaves are in clusters of three. They are three to five 

 inches long, stiff, dark yellow-green and fall during 

 their second year. 



The cones are one to three inches long and light 

 brown in color. They often remain on the tree for 

 ten or twelve years. The scales are tipped with sharp 

 prickles, a character likely to aid in the recognition 

 of the species. 



The wood is light, soft and brittle. It is sometimes 

 sawed into coarse lumber and is used for charcoal and 

 for fuel. It is chiefly valuable because it will do well 

 on extremely sterile soil, although it is a slow grower. 

 Turpentine and tar were once made from this species 

 in New England. There is a growing tendency to use 

 this species for box-board lumber. 



9 



PITCH PINE. One-half natural size. 



From Sargent's " Manual of the Trees of North America,' 



by permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 



