CHAPTER V 

 IMPORTANT FOREST TREES AND THEIR USES 



Of our native trees, the white pine is one of 

 the best and most valuable. It is a tall straight 

 tree that grows to a height of 100 to 150 feet. It 

 produces wood that is light in weight and easy to 

 work because it is so soft. At one time there 

 were extensive pine forests in the northeastern 

 states. Many of the trees were very large, and 

 occasionally one may still see pine stumps that 

 are 5 to 6 feet in diameter. White pine made fine 

 lumber for houses and other buildings and this 

 timber was among the first to be exhausted in 

 the country. 



Spruce trees have long furnished the bulk 

 of the woodpulp used in making our supplies of 

 paper. These trees live in the colder climates 

 of the northern states. They like to grow in low, 

 wet localities close to lakes or rivers. The spruces 

 generally do not grow higher than 75-100 feet. 

 The wood is soft like pine and even whiter in 

 color. The aboriginal Indians used the roots of 

 the spruce trees as thread, twine and rope. 



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