12 



TIMHKK FIXES OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. 



of Southern timbers, the Longleaf Pine, now being replaced by Cuban anil Loblolly Pines; (2) the 

 rolling pine hills, or pine barrens proper, with a width of 50 to 120 miles, the true home of the 

 Longleaf Pine, which occupies it almost by itself; (3) the belt of mixed growth of 20 to JO miles in 

 width, in which the Longleaf Pine loses its predominance, the Shortleaf, the Loblolly, and the hard 

 woods associating and disputing territory with it; and (4) the Shortleaf Pine belt, where the 

 species predominates on the sandy soils, the Longleaf being entirely absent and the Loblolly only a 

 I'cclile competitor, hard woods being interspersed or occupying the better sites. Within the terri- 

 tory the species that occur occupy different situations. Thus the Cuban, which accompanies the 

 Longleaf. usually occupies the less well-drained situations, together with the Loblolly, which, 

 although it can accommodate itself to all soils, reaches its best development in the rich lowlands 

 and is specially well developed in the flat woods which border the coast marshes of eastern Texas, 

 where it associates with the Shortleaf Pine it also seeks the rnoister situation. 



The Longleaf and Shortleaf pines are, in quantity and quality combined, the most important, 

 while the Loblolly or Oldfleld Piiie, as yet not fully appreciated, comes next, occupying large areas. 

 The Cuban Pine, usually known as Slash Pine always cut and sold without distinction with the 

 Longleaf Pine a tree of as line quality and of more rapid growth than the Longleaf Pine, is associ- 

 ated with the latter in the coast pine belt, scattered in single individuals or groups, but appears to 

 increase in greater proportion in the young growth, being by its manner of development in early 

 life better fitted to escape the dangers to which the aftergrowth is exposed. 



Besides these four most important pines, the botanical distinctions of which appear in the 

 table below, there are a number of others of less significance. The White Pine (Piniix strvbuts) of 

 the North extends its reign along the higher mountain regions of North Carolina into Georgia, 

 forming a valuable timber tree, but of small extent. The Spruce Pine, to which a short chapter 

 is devoted in this Bulletin, develops into timber si/.e, but is found only in small quantities and 

 mostly scattered, and has therefore as yet not received attention in lumber markets; but its qual- 

 ities, and especially its forestal value, being a pine which endures shade, will probably be appre- 

 ciated in the future. 



Since the publication of the first edition of this bulletin the Pond Pine has unexpectedly been 

 found to furnish not inconsiderable quantities of timber (see p. 169). The Scrub Pine (Pin MS 

 virginiana) furnishes only firewood. 



BOTANICAL DIAGNOSIS OF THK FOUR PRINCIPAL, PINES OCCURRING IN THE SOITHKRN STATES. 



Species. 

 Leaves 



'inni- ]Hi[t/*fi-iy Miller. 



Cones (open) 

 Scales 



I'rirkles 

 Buds 



Three in a bundle, 9 to 12 (exceptionally 14 to 15) inches long. 



6 to 9 inches long, 4J to 5 inches in diameter 



Seven-eighths to 1 ineh broad; tips much wrinkled; liuhi 



chestnut brown: gray with age. 



Very short, delicate, incurved 



Three-fourths inch long, one-half inch in diameter. silver 



white. 



Species. 



Leaves 



Cones (oiten). 

 Scales 



Prickles . 

 Buds ... 



/Sim* erhinata Miller. 



Tun :iml three in a bundle; Ig to 4 inches long; commonly 



'JJ to 4 inches. 



IJ to '1 inches long; 1J to 1J inches in di;nnetei- 



!''ivt- sixt, Tilths to three-eighths (exceptionally ubout one- 

 half) inch broad; tips light yellow-brown. 

 Exceedingly short (one-tenth' inch) : delicate ; straight; dc 



dined. 

 Three-eighths to one-half inch Ion - : alum t nnr-eigthth inch 



in diameter; brownish. 



fotarapftylla (Kll.) Sudw. 



Two and three in a bundle: 7 to 12 (usually 9 to 10) in, hes 



long. 



4to6j (nsually4 to 5) inches lung: 3t"42 inches in diameter. 

 Eleven-sixteenths to seven -eighths inch broad: tips 



wrinkled: <lerp russet brown : sliinv. 

 Very short ; .straight; declined. 

 About one-half inch long; one-fourth inch in diameter; 



brownish. 



7'i'nu* (arfo Linn. 



Three in a bundle; 5 to 8 inches long. 



2i to 4J inches long; l\ to 3 inches in diameter. 

 I In.-, right lis to three-fourths inch broad; tips smooth; dull 



yellow-brown. 

 Short; stout at base. 



One-half to three-t'otirths inch long: one-fourth inch in di- 

 ameter; brownish. 



The greatest confusion exists with regard to the vernacular names of these pines, in conse- 

 quence of which information regarding them, given by the native population, must always be 

 carefully scrutinized to determine exactly to what species it refers. Even in the lumber market 

 and among wood consumers, engineers, architects, and carpenters the same confusion exists; 

 Longleaf and Cuban pines are never distinguished ; Shortleaf and Loblolly pines are mixed indis- 

 criminately, and often "Southern Pine," or "Yellow Southern Pine, 1 ' satisfies the specification of 

 the architect and may come from any of the four species. 



