Yearbook^ of Agriculture 1949 



is flexible, and the small twigs and 

 foliage are arranged in graceful sprays. 

 The inconspicuous flowers appear in 

 May and cones develop in the summer 

 and autumn. The latter are formed 

 at the tips of the small twigs; they are 

 about one-half to three-fourths of an 

 inch long, green at first, gradually turn- 

 ing reddish to brown. 



In planting hemlock, the site should 

 be carefully selected so that the young 

 tree may be sheltered from any drying 

 winds. The hemlock grows slowly and 

 prefers a shady or sheltered location 

 with moist soil. It may be grown in 

 various types of soil, however, but will 

 not be successful in an exposed site with 

 dry, poor soil. 



RED PINE is native in northern New 

 England and in the Lake States. It is 

 also grown extensively in the area as 

 a shade or ornamental tree. It may 

 attain a height of 50 to 75 feet. The 

 trunk is erect and continuous into the 

 crown. The branches are stout, spread- 

 ing, and slightly pendulous at the base 

 of the tree. The tips of the branches 

 usually turn upward. On young trees 

 the branches extend to the ground and 

 form a broad, pyramidal head. The 

 bark of the trunk is reddish brown. 

 The needle-shaped leaves are dark 

 green, from 5 to 6 inches long, slender, 

 brittle, and have sharply pointed tips. 

 There are two in a cluster, in long, 

 flexible tufts. They remain on the trees 

 four or five seasons. The cones, about 

 2 inches long, are green when young; 

 they gradually turn light brown and 

 reach maturity the second autumn. 



Red pine will grow best in light and 

 sandy soil in sunny locations. It will 

 not thrive in shady sites or in poorly 

 drained soils. It is not readily trans- 

 planted but, when it is once established 

 under favorable conditions, young trees 

 will grow rapidly. The lifespan of the 

 red pine in the forest is about 350 years. 



The species is susceptible to a num- 

 ber of fungus diseases, including leaf 

 diseases, cankers, and wood rots, but 

 when grown in the open as a shade tree 

 it is usually free from these diseases. 



EASTERN WHITE PINE, a native in 

 much of the region, is valued highly 

 both for shade and ornament. It 

 may attain a height of 50 to 80 feet. 

 Its straight and tapering trunk nor- 

 mally is continuous into the crown. The 

 branches are widespreading and hori- 

 zontal and generally are arranged in 

 whorls of five. In the young trees they 

 extend to the ground and form a 

 broad-based and pyramidal or conical 

 head. The leaves are three-sided, in 

 clusters of five, and are bluish green, 

 soft, slender, flexible, and about 3 to 

 5 inches long. They usually remain 

 on the twigs for two seasons. White 

 pine will grow in almost any location 

 but nevertheless it likes best a rich, 

 well-drained soil. 



Under favorable conditions, white 

 pine grows rapidly and reaches ma- 

 turity in about 200 years, and in the 

 forest its lifespan is about 450 years. 

 As a shade tree it often becomes ragged 

 after 40 to 60 years, particularly at 

 low elevations or in the hotter and 

 drier parts of the region. 



Many fungus diseases attack the 

 leaves, twigs, and trunk of the eastern 

 white pine, but most of them cause 

 only slight weakening or injury. Blister 

 rust, a fungus disease, produces serious 

 cankers on branches or trunk and may 

 result in the death of the tree. Pre- 

 cautionary measures can usually be 

 taken to prevent ornamental white 

 pines from becoming infected. 



WHITE FIR is native in the western 

 part of the United States but is ex- 

 tensively and successfully grown as a 

 shade or ornamental tree in the North- 

 east. It is hardy as far north as central 

 Maine. It may attain a height of 60 

 to 70 feet. Its straight, tapering trunk 

 and whorled, spreading branches usu- 

 ally extend to the ground and form a 

 broad-based, pyramidal head. The 

 leaves are narrow, flat, about 2 inches 

 long, bluish green or silvery; they 

 spread outward and curve upward 

 from the twigs. They remain on the 

 twigs for several years. 



White fir will grow in a wide range 



