116 TIMBER PINES OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. 



distribution of tliis tree iu tlie Southwestern States, to the establishment of its western and 

 uortbern boundary lines, and to a more general appreciation of its economic importance in its 

 eastern and western range. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND ECONOMIC HISTORY. 



The Loblolly Pine extends from the Delaware and Maryland peninsula through lower Virginia 

 to Cape Malabar in Florida, and all over the Gulf States and southern Arkansas to the Colorado 

 Eiver in Texas (see PI. XVIII). The northern limit of the Loblolly Pine can be described by a 

 line drawn from the lower part of Newcastle County, Del., thi'ough the District of Columbia, to 

 Petersburg, Va., thence toward middle North Carolina, following in its western course nearly the 

 thirty-fifth degree of north latitude to the southern boundary of Tennessee, through southern 

 Arkansas to the southeastern confines of the Indian Territory. Its most western station is an 

 isolated tract of small extent near Bastroi), Tex., the sole and last representative of the Atlantic 

 pines in the Southwest. 



Michaux the younger established the northern limit of the Loblolly Pine near Fredericks- 

 burg, Va., between the Eappahannock and Potomac rivers; M. A. Curtis placed it in or close 

 to the District of Columbia. Its occurrence in the District was, however, considered doubtful, or 

 merely accidental, until in 18SS it was confirmed by Dr. George Vasey, who discovered a group ot 

 fullgrown trees iu the woods near the Eeform School. Mr. William Canby states that he " found 

 in the lower part of Newcastle County, Del., a good many Loblolly Pines, and from the point 

 mentioned it becomes more and more plentiful and widespread in the Delaware-Maryland 

 peninsula." 



On the Atlantic Slope, near its northern limit, the Loblolly Pine occurs most frequently in the 

 flat lands of the tidewater districts, forming rarely continuous forests, more frequently less com- 

 pact bodies of timber, associated with the Shortleaf Pine, oaks, and other hard-wood trees. 



In Virginia this tree is not found beyond the northern limit of the Tertiary strata of the coast 

 region, and is not met with west of Petersburg and Richmond. 



In the lower part of this State, as in North Carolina, the Loblolly Pine was formerly found in 

 great perfection and abundance — broad forest belts of Loblolly alternating with forests of Shortleaf 

 in Michaux's time. The original forests have, however, in a great measure disappeared, and their 

 progeny, of second or third growth, is now depended upon as the principal source of lumber. 

 On the lands exhausted by the earlier planters, and which have been abandoned for several 

 generations, the timber of this Sap Pine, or Oldfield Pine, has in many localities attained dimensions 

 and a degree of maturitj' fitting it for all purposes for which timber of the original growth is 

 employed. This important fact is confirmed by parties engaged in the lumber business in south- 

 eastern Virginia and in eastern North Carolina. 



From information received it is evident that in these parts the second growth of Loblolly Pine 

 is chiefly depended upon for the manufacture of lumber, and it is now ascertained that the 

 Shortleaf Pine contributes but a small part of the timber supply. lioth of these trees are known 

 by the inhabitants as Shortleaf, or Shortstraw, Pine, and their timber is sawn indiscriminately; the 

 proportions of the lumber of either reaching the markets can therefore not be determined. Mr. 

 Joseph Allard, jr., of Richmond, reports that most of the Virginia Pine is Loblolly Pine, and that 

 every fifty years will produce trees large enough for sawlogs, three to each tree, averaging 16 feet 

 in length. Mr. Sparrow, of Brooke, Staflbrd County, states that the pine of this county, and in 

 Caroline County, is almost entirely of the Oldfield Pine (Loblolly Pine), and that in the latter from 

 thirty to forty sawmills are cutting this pine. Messrs. J. E. and Edward Rogers, from Sufiblk 

 County, each remark that " large quantities of lumber are manufactured from Oldfield Pine, which 

 is fast taking the place of Yellow Pine (Pinus echinata), the latter having been used up by the 

 sawmills in this section," The young timber is, according to the same accounts, cut into joist.s, 

 uprights, and other square stuft' for framing ; the best quality is selected for flooring, ceiling, and 

 other inside finish, the lumber being sold under the name of Virginia Pine in the markets of 

 Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. 



On the coast of southern A'irginia the Loblolly Pine forms about 75 per cent of the timber 

 standing. According to all accounts the original growth is rapidly disappearing, but the exceed- 



