214: THE WHITE OAK. 



meclianic arts where toughness, strength, and durability are requisite. 

 The wood of Chestnut is eminently durable ; that of Beech, Ironwood 

 (Carpimis) and Liver- wood {Ostrya), is hard and compact, and therefore 

 serviceable for joiners' tools. 



LVII. THE WHITE PINE. 



Description. — Tlie White Pine grows in any soil where 

 it is planted ; but its native forests and groves are gen- 

 erally associated with a dry sandy loam. Our Pilgrim 

 Fathers found here one continuous forest waving with 

 Pines, where now are cities, towns and plantations. On 

 the plains of Dartmouth and Saratoga once towered majes- 

 tic Pines more than 200 feet. To-day, on the Sierra Moun- 

 tains, the Lambert Pines 300 feet in height lift their im- 

 perial heads. 



Analysis (generic). The Leaves of the Pines are truly 

 evergreen, persisting in all their verdure through the Winter 

 until those of the next season are full grown. Their form 

 is as characteristic as that of the cones. They are acerous or 

 needle-shaped, angular, collected in little fascicles (bundles) 

 of 2s, 3s, or 5s, bound together by a sheathing bract at the 

 base. In 2s they are semi-terete ; in 3s and 5s triangular, 

 with serrulate edges. 



The F'loii^ers come with the new leaves. They are of 

 two kinds, both generally found on the same tree, i. e., 

 monoecious. The sterile {$,) flowers are in small, oblong, 

 dense, reddish aments clustered around the base of the new 

 shoots. Each ament is involucrate with a few scales, and 

 consists of stamens alone. The anthers are 2-celled and 

 contain triple pollen gi'ains. The fertile (?) aments are lat- 

 eral, consisting of spirally imbricated scales (open carpels) 

 each bearing at its base 2 ovules turned downward, although 

 not inverted on their stalks (orthotropous). 



