256 



TREES GROWING IN SANDY SOIL. 



sheaths at their bases; at maturity spreading; needle-shaped; flattened on 

 the outer side, the inner one slightly ridged and rough; curved ; rigid; sharp ; 

 evergreen. Under the microscope the surface can be seen to be marked with 

 fine white dots. Cones : one and a half to three inches long; growing mostly 

 in clusters of two or four; ovoid-conical; lateral. Scales: thickened at their 

 apex and tipped with a stiff and sometimes recurved prickle. 



How much the trees give to man ; the life element of 

 the air he breathes is only the beginning of their generosity, 

 for they supply his wants as well. It seems as though they 

 had a grand, stupid fondness for the 

 whole animal world. 



The pitch pine is rough and scraggly 

 in appearance, and its light, reddish-brown 

 timber is coarse and of slight value. But 

 its wood contains an immense quantity of 

 pitch, and so it is desirable for fuel and 

 for making charcoal. It is also rich in 

 tar and turpentine. Through the pine 

 barrens of Long Island and especially of 

 New Jersey where it forms the bulk of 

 " the pines " it is well known. It grows 

 rapidly and can sustain itself in soil where 

 many others would die from a lack of 

 nourishment. Even when cut down numerous and vigourous 

 shoots often spring up from its stump. Occasionally the 

 tree inhabits cold, deep swamps. About Cape Cod and on Nan- 

 tucket a most interesting and successful experiment has been 

 made in sowing its seeds. 



On February 27, 1855, Thoreau wrote in his journal : " A 

 week or two ago I brought home a handsome pitch pine cone, 

 which had freshly fallen and was closed perfectly tight. It 

 was put into a table-drawer. To-day I am agreeably surprised 

 that it has there dried and opened with perfect regularity, 

 filling the drawer, and from a solid, narrow and sharp cone has 

 become a broad, rounded, open one, has in fact expanded into 

 a conical flower with rigid scales, and has shed a remarkable 



Plnus rigida. 



