44 AMERICAN FOREST TREES 



loblolly and shortleaf , but larger than the range of Cuban pine. Longleaf 

 occupies a belt from Virginia to Texas, following the tertiary sandy 

 formation pretty closely. The belt seldom extends from the coast 

 inland more than 125 miles. The tree runs south in Florida to Tampa 

 bay. It disappears as it approaches the Mississippi, but reappears 

 west of that river in Louisiana and Texas. Its western limit is near 

 Trinity river, and its northern in that region is near the boundary 

 between Louisiana and Arkansas. 



Longleaf attains a height of from sixty to ninety feet, but a few 

 trees reach 130. The diameters of mature trunks range from one foot 

 to three, usually less than two. The leaves grow three in a bundle, and 

 fall at the end of the second year. They are arranged in thick, broom- 

 like bunches on the ends of the twigs. It is a tree of slow growth com- 

 pared with other pines of the region. Its characteristic narrow annual 

 rings are usually sufficient to distinguish its logs and lumber from those 

 of other southern yellow pines. Its thin sapvood likewise assists in 

 identification. The proportionately high percentage of heartwood in 

 longleaf pine makes it possible to saw lumber which shows little or 

 no sapwood. It is difficult to do that with other southern pines. 



The wood is heavy, exceedingly han*. for pine, very strong, tough, 

 compact, durable, resinous, resin passages few, not conspicuous; 

 medullary rays numerous, not conspicuous; color, light red or orange, 

 the thin sapwood nearly white. The annual rings contain a large propor- 

 tion of dark colored summerwood, which accounts for the great strength 

 of longleaf pine timber. The contrast in color between the springwood 

 and the summerwood is the basis of the figure of this pine which gives it 

 much of its value as an interior finish material, including doors. The 

 hardness of the summerwood provides the wearing qualities of flooring 

 and paving blocks. The coloring matter in the body of the wood protects 

 it against decay for a longer period than most other pines. This, 

 in connection with its hardness and strength, gives it high standing for 

 railroad ties, bridges, trestles, and other structures exposed to weather. 



Longleaf pine is as widely used as any softwood in this country. 

 It serves with hardwoods for a number of purposes. It has been a 

 timber of commerce since an early period, and was exported from the 

 south Atlantic coast long before the Revolutionary war; but it was 

 later than that when it came into keen competition with the Riga 

 pine of northern Europe. It has since held its own in the European 

 markets, and its trade has extended to many other foreign countries, 

 particularly to the republics of South and Central America, Mexico, 

 and the West Indies. 



It did not attain an important position in the commerce of this 



