49. PINUS STROBUS WHITE PINE. 41 



49. PINUS STROBUS, L. 



WHITE PINE, WEYMOUTH PI^E. 



Ger., Weimutliskiefer ; Fr., Pinblanc; Sp., Pino bianco. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. Leaves slender, glaucous, in 5s, with a short, loose- 

 scaled, deciduous sheath enveloping the base of each fascicle. Sterile catkins 5 or 6 

 together, ovoid, about in. (1 cm.) long and with 6-8 involucral scales at base. Cones 

 4-6 in. (10-15 cm.) long, terminal, solitary, cylindrical and often curved, loose, pen- 

 dant and falling after shedding the seeds; scales slightly, if at all, thickened at the 

 tips and not furnished with a prickle; seed smooth; cotyledons 8-10. 



(Strobus is a classical name of a tree.) 



A majestic tree, tallest of our eastern forests, it sometimes towers to 

 the height of 160 ft. (49 m.) or more, with a straight, columnar trunk, 

 perhaps 8 ft. (2.40 m. ) in diameter, and free from branches for 80-100 ft., 

 it holds its entire top above the heads of the surrounding trees. The 

 bark is comparatively smooth, but on old trunks it is rendered rough 

 with longitudinal furrows and firm ridges. Its tufted foliage of fine 

 bluish-green needles are recognizable at once. 



HABITAT. Canada, the North-eastern States, and southward along 

 the Alleghanies to Georgia, growing best in a damp, sandy soil. It is 

 preeminently a tree of the valley of the St. Lawrence river and the Great 

 Lakes, where, in places, it forms extensive tracts of forests. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood very soft, light, compact, straight- 

 grained, easily worked, of a delicate pinkish-brown color with lighter and 

 thin sap-wood. One point of considerable value is the comparatively 

 small degree to which it shrinks and swells owing to changes in the 

 atmosphere. Specific Gravity, 0.3854; Percentage of As7i, 0.19; Rela- 

 tive Approximate Fuel Value, 0.3847 ; Coefficient of Elasticity, 85093 ; 

 Modulus of Rupture, 62G ; Resistance to Longitudinal Pressure, 339 ; 

 Resistance to Indentation, 74 ; Weight of a Cubic Foot in Pounds, 24.02. 



USES. The most useful and indispensable tree of the American for- 

 ests, affording a timber of greatest value for many uses, as for finishing, 

 interior work, doors, sash and blinds, for shingles, etc., etc. Indeed, 

 builders would hardly know what to do without White Pine in many 

 places. Owing to its lightness, it is of great value for the masts and 

 spars of vessels. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. None are known of this species. 



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