226 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



only a forest State but essentially a white pine State. This valuable 

 species was plentiful throughout the territory. . . . Many New York 

 lumbermen still living recall giant white pines that measured 7 feet or 

 more across the stumps and over 220 feet in height. . . . Dr. Torrey 

 wrote in 1843 : ' The white pine is found in most parts of the State. . . . 

 Our chief extensive forests of this noble and most valuable tree are on 

 the headwaters of the Hudson and on the rivers which empty into the 

 St. Lawrence.' . . . The Adirondack tourist of to-day can still see in 

 the tall trees at Paul Smith's or in the noble colonnade of white pine 

 along the shores of Forked Lake further evidence of its extensive habitat." 

 A quotation given in the same book from the Ulster County Gazette of 

 November 13, 1799, reads : 



For sale. The one-half of a Sawmill. With a convenient place for 

 building in the town of Rochester. By the mill, there is an inexhaustible 

 quantity of Pinewood. 



It is imported in the form of sawn boards and planks of various 

 sizes and thicknesses, also in wide planks, with square sawn edges, some- 

 times termed " sidings " ; also in long logs hewn square but showing 

 waney edges. From these logs deck planks and other exceptional sizes 

 are sawn out. 



The wood is a pale straw colour, and contrasts with other commercial 

 pines and firs by the very thin, dark, parallel Unes (resin ducts) running 

 with the grain. Strong in comparison with its weight, and very durable, 

 it is perfectly reliable. Being a " soft pine " (as opposed to the hard 

 pines, represented by the Scots pine and pitch pine), it is soft and easy 

 to work, for it is also straight grained. For various indoor uses it 

 is admirably fitted, since although it requires a longer time to season 

 than do the majority of soft timbers, yet when properly seasoned it 

 undergoes remarkably sHght shrinkage, warping, or twisting. On this 

 account it is favoured by engineers for pattern making. For the decks 

 of ships this is a favourite wood, and in yielding clean, white flooring for 

 pleasure yachts it has no rival. Yellow pine was formerly used largely 

 for signboards, but is now sometimes replaced in this relation by less 

 costly woods. Immense quantities are used in the manufacture of matches 

 (" white pine " or " cork pine " matches), for which purpose it is un- 

 surpassed. 



The annual rings are clearly marked, but in contrast with the Scots 

 pine and pitch pine the spring wood merges very gradually into the 

 summer wood. The medullary rays are invisible. 



PiQUiA. Source unknown. Weight, 49 lbs. 13 oz. Brazil. 



The colour of this wood is a yellowish-brown with a tinge of red. It 

 gives a rough, scratchy surface from the tool, showing a wide, double 



