REFORESTATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 25 



SYLVICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TREES. 



Trees most commonly found growing in Massachusetts, the Uses to 

 which their Timber is put, and a Few of their Most Important 

 Enemies. 



For convenience in the matter of reference, we shall separate 

 the different species under three heads: (1) conifers, (2) north- 

 ern hardwoods and (3) southern hardwoods, the term " hard- 

 woods " being used for all trees other than conifers. 



Under (1) will be treated white pine, red or Norway pine r 

 pitch pine, Scotch pine, hemlock, red spruce, and Norway 

 spruce. 



Under (2) come rock maple, beech, white birch and yellow 

 birch. 



Under (3), chestnut, red oak, white oak, red maple, shag- 

 bark hickory, black locust and white ash. 

 % 



1. CONIFERS. 

 White Pine (Pinus strobus). 



This species is placed first, both because of its marked adapt- 

 ability to growth in this State and because of the universal de- 

 mand for its lumber. 



It may be found growing in all sorts of situations except in 

 extremely wet soil, such as swamps. This does not, of course, 

 mean that the tree grows equally well everywhere, for it undoubt- 

 edly prefers a ^ell-drained, loamy sand, and there reaches its 

 best development. Ideal conditions exist on the slopes and at 

 the bottoms of the old glacial deposits so numerous all over the 

 State. 



The wljite pine grows either pure or in mixture with other 

 species, but in the latter case the other trees should form a lower 

 or under story about the pine, otherwise, the tree will not grow 

 well, being too much shaded by the others. It is a mistake to 

 believe that white pine is a shade-enduring tree, for, while some 

 shade is beneficial in the early stages of growth, it is very harm- 

 ful at later periods. 



Keproduction is by seed, which is produced annually, but in 

 much larger quantities at intervals of from five to six years, 



