68 AMERICAN FOREST TREES 



in the country's timber resources. The total stand has been estimated 

 at 275,000,000,000 feet, and is second only to that of Douglas fir, though 

 the combined stand of the four southern yellow pines is about 100,000,- 

 000,000 feet larger. It is a vigorous species, able to hold its ground under 

 ordinary circumstances. Next to incense cedar and the giant sequoias 

 which are associated with it hi the Sierra Nevada mountains, it is the 

 most prolific seed bearer of the western conifers, and its seeds are 

 sufficiently light to insure wide distribution. It is gaining ground within 

 its range by taking possession of vacant areas which have been bared by 

 lumbering or fire. In some cases it crowds to death the more stately 

 sugar pine by cutting off its light and moisture. It resists fire better 

 than most of the forest trees with which it is associated. On the other 

 hand, it suffers from enemies more than its associates do. A beetle 

 (Dendroctonus ponderosa), destroys large stands. In the Black Hills 

 in 1903 its ravages killed 600,000,000 feet. 



This splendid pine has run the gamut of uses from the corral pole 

 of the first settler to the paneled door turned out by the modern factory. 

 It has almost an unlimited capacity for usefulness. It grows in dry 

 regions of the Rocky Mountains where it is practically the only source 

 of wood supply; and it is equally secure in its position where forests 

 are abundant and fine. It has supplied props, stulls, and lagging for 

 mines in nearly every state touched by its range. Without its ties and 

 other timbers some of the early railroads through the western mountains 

 could scarcely have been built. It has been one of the leading flume 

 timbers in western lumber and irrigation development. It fenced many 

 ranches in early times and is still doing so. It is used in general con- 

 struction, and in finish ; from the shingle to the foundation sill of houses. 

 It finds its way to eastern lumber markets. Almost 20,000,000 feet 

 a year are used hi Illinois alone. Competition with eastern white pine 

 is met in the Lake States because, grade for grade, the western wood is 

 cheaper, until lower grades are reached. The western yellow pine, in the 

 eastern market, is confused with the western white pine of Idaho and 

 Montana (Pinus monticola) and separate statistics of use are impossible. 



The makers of fruit boxes in California often employ the yellow 

 pine in lieu of sugar pine which once supplied the whole trade. It is 

 also used by coopers for various containers, but not for alcoholic liquors. 



The leaves are hi clusters of twos and threes, and are from five to 

 eleven inches long. Most of them fall during the third year. The 

 cones are from three to six inches long, and generally fall soon after 

 they reach maturity. 



COULTER PINS (Pinus coulterf) is also known as nut pine, big cone pine, and 

 long cone pine. It is a California species, scarce, but of much interest because of its 



