j 3 8 THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF WOOD. 



HARD-PINE. 



Ordinary hard-pine differs from soft-pine in that it is hard, 

 resinous, heavy, harder to work, and very strong. It also is ob- 

 tainable in large pieces. The orange-yellow wood is more or less 

 figured. The annual deposits are pronounced and are separated 

 into two sharply divided rings. The supply is chiefly derived 

 from the longleaf, shortleaf, Cuban, and loblolly pines of the 

 South Atlantic States. 



The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is distinctly the most 

 important of its group. The wood is ideal for heavy* construc- 

 tions. Beams, docks, trestles, and frames of cars are formed 

 of it. The trees afford the greater bulk of turpentine, tar, and 

 resin, or " naval stores," produced in this country.* Cuban, 

 shortleaf, and loblolly pine woods (P. hcterophylla, P. 

 echinata, and P. tceda} are nearly similar. Longleaf and 

 Cuban pines are seldom separated, while shortleaf and 

 loblolly pines are also mixed. Longleaf pine usually affords 

 finer structure and more heartwood than Cuban pine. 

 Strength and weight averages of both woods are in excess of 

 those of shortleaf and loblolly pines. No method of invariably 

 telling these four woods apart has as yet been determined. 

 (Roth.) Any or all of them are practically liable to be 

 delivered in response to a demand for Southern pine. Johnson 

 considers shortleaf pine as good as longleaf pine of equal 

 weight, and suggests environment as a means of identification. 



Palustris, signifying "swampy," is misleading, since 

 long leaf pine prefers dry, sandy soil and tracts known as 

 "pine barrens." Mitis refers to the soft, delicate foliage of 

 shortleaf pine. Tada signifies "torch." The trees maybe 

 told by differences in their leaves and cones. 



* Manufacture of tar, pitch, etc. (See Report Chief U. S. Div. Forestry, 

 1892, p. 356 ; also U. S. Forestry Bulletin No. 13.) 



