CUBAN PINE. 25 



and this gives it special importance there. It is a Cuban and Mexi- 

 can tree, and its geographical location suggests that it may have 

 entered the United States by way of the Florida Peninsula. 



No estimate of stand has been made for this pine. It is dispersed, 

 and is not found in all parts of its geographical range. It is aggres- 

 sive and, possessing the ability to grow in the shade, it is pushing its 

 way into the longleaf-pine districts and crowding that species out of 

 some localities. In order to do this it must have the assistance of 

 man or fire. Where lumbermen cut the longleaf pine, or where fire 

 clears the ground, the Cuban pine gets a foothold and is generally able 

 to hold it against all comers. It grows rapidly, overtops the young 

 trees or other species, and shades them to death. Its rapid growth 

 gives it an advantage over most of its associates in contending against 

 fire. If it escapes for a short time it attains size sufficient to enable it 

 to endure scorching that proves fatal to the smaller seedlings of other 

 species. It reaches commercial size much earlier in life than the 

 longleaf pine, and this adds a value to it. Trees 40 years old produce 

 turpentine, and before they are much older they attain sizes fitting 

 them for lumber. 



MANUFACTURE AND PRODUCTS. 



The fact that the Cuban pine has gone to market with longleaf 

 and loblolly without any distinction being made indicates that its 

 range of uses is, or may be made, as wide as theirs. It is stronger 

 than either, and has greater elasticity. Its wood resembles loblolly 

 more than longleaf, because it is of rapid growth and has wide 

 annual rings. It was long ago used for shipbuilding, but those who 

 used it supposed it to be loblolly pine. Though employed in boat 

 yards for a number of purposes, the largest use was for masts and 

 spars. It has a place among interior finish materials and is manu- 

 factured into door and window frames, sash, wainscoting, stair work, 

 molding, ceiling, and flooring. It is employed for general construc- 

 tion purposes, including siding, porch posts, balusters, and railing. 

 It meets all the general demands upon yellow pine in furniture 

 making, agricultural machinery, farm timbers, and bridge building. 

 Car shops employ it for beams, frames, lining, siding, ceiling, and 

 roofing for freight cars, and it ranks high among the pines as a 

 crosstie wood, and much of it is bought for that purpose. Its rapid 

 growth is a factor of value, because young trees quickly reach the 

 required size. This pine grows much to sap. Young trees are more 

 than half sapwood, but in old trees the heartwood has the larger 

 place. The wood yields readily to preservative treatment, and its 

 period of service is greatly lengthened, especially when made into 

 ties and laid in damp situations. 



