26 REFORESTATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



called " seed years." The seeding process is described in detail 

 elsewhere in this bulletin. 



As regards size and rate of growth, white pine compares favor- 

 ably with any eastern tree and far exceeds most of them in these 

 respects, reaching merchantable size in about fifty years, as 

 shown in the " Forest Mensuration of the White Pine in Massa- 

 chusetts," published by the State Forester in 1908. If left to 

 grow undisturbed, it reaches a size excelled only by trees of the 

 Pacific coast, specimens having been recorded that exceeded 200 

 feet in height, with a diameter of 6 feet, while heights of 100 

 feet, with 3-foot diameters, are not uncommon. 



The chief enemy of this tree, as of all others in this State, is 

 fire, which, if it does not kill, so weakens it as to render it liable 

 to attack by all kinds of insects and 'fungi. The white pine is 

 especially susceptible when young, even a slight ground fire being 

 quite sufficient to completely kill it. In this respect it resembles 

 the chestnut. 



Leading insect enemies are the pine weevil and the various 

 bark borers, all of which are much less likely to cause trouble in 

 healthy stands than in those weakened by other causes. The 

 gypsy moth, while it will eat pines as well as everything else, is 

 not apt to invade pure stands containing this species alone. The 

 brown-tail and leopard moths do not eat pine. 



It seems almost unnecessary to enumerate the uses of .the tree, 

 as they are so well known. Among them may be mentioned 

 building timber - of all kinds, laths, various kinds of cabinet 

 material, interior finish, wooden ware, matches, flag poles, masts 

 and boxes. 



Red or Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa). 



This tree, while common in southern Maine, is not so familiar 

 to residents of Massachusetts, partly because it does not grow in 

 pure stands, but only as scattered individuals, and partly because 

 the difficulty of collecting the seed renders the cost of planting 

 either seed or seedlings very high. The tree, however, is a very 

 excellent species, and compares favorably with white pine in 

 many respects. 



It grows on the same kind of soil as the white pine, but will 

 grow on dry ridges, where the white pine will not. It will not 

 grow in swamps or in poorly drained soil. 



