SPRUCE PINE. 27 



the species' power of reproduction is sufficient to maintain a foot- 

 hold and to extend it when conditions are favorable. Its rate of 

 growth is not much less than that of loblolly pine, when soil, light, 

 and drainage are just right; but it is unable to extend its range as 

 its associate pines do, and for that reason there is little prospect that 

 the pond pine will ever much increase its commercial importance. 

 When crowded in close stands it clears itself of branches and makes 

 a trunk suited for the sawmill, but the amount of sap wood is ex- 

 cessive, surpassing loblolly pine in that respect. 



MANUFACTURE AND PRODUCTS. 



Pond pine has been cut, sawed, and sold as loblolly in all parts of 

 its range. Lumbermen often do not recognize the difference. The 

 growing trees look much alike, and, except for the cones, one may 

 be readily mistaken for the other. The wood of the two species bears 

 close resemblance and is difficult to distinguish. Pond pine lumber 

 has given good service as planing-mill output, such as flooring, ceil- 

 ing, and interior finish. It has gone to practically all the markets 

 where loblolly has gone, though in less quantity. In the region where 

 it grows it has been used since the settlement of the country as a 

 plantation timber, especially for fencing about rice fields and on the 

 islands and near the coast, where Sea Island cotton is grown. It does 

 not last well in contact with the ground, but within limited areas its 

 abundance has made it the most economical wood for certain pur- 

 poses. That part of the cut which has reached the manufacturing 

 cities has answered the purposes of cheap furniture, particularly for 

 couches. 



BY-PRODUCTS. 



Pond pine was formerly not considered by turpentine operators, 

 but when the abundance of longleaf pine near the coast began to fail 

 operators experimented with this species and found it of consider- 

 able value, but not equal to longleaf. The quality of the product is 

 satisfactory, but the quantity per tree is smaller, and it costs more to 

 get it. The streak or wound in the bark which produces the resin 

 must be renewed oftener, and the annual period of production is 

 shorter than for longleaf. It is claimed, further, that the tree sooner 

 succumbs to the injury from tapping. 



SPRUCE PINE (Pinus glabra). 

 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. 



Dry weight of wood. 24.5 pounds per cubic foot (Sargent). 

 Specific gravity. 0.39 (Sargent). 

 Ash. 0.45 per cent of dry weight of wood (Sargent). 

 Fuel value. 53 per cent that of white oak (Sargent). 



