56 HAND-BOOK OF TREE-PLANTING. 



culty that fine specimens of others can be ob- 

 tained. The steady increase of the market-price 

 of almost all our woods, and the rapid increase 

 of that of some, is the sufficient proof of our 

 wasteful use of the forests without having made 

 any provision for their renewal. 



The most valuable of our forest-trees is, 

 unquestionably, the white pine (Pinus strobus). 

 While it can not take the place of the oak or of 

 some other trees for particular purposes, we 

 have no other tree which meets our need for so 

 many uses as this does. It combines strength 

 with lightness as no other wood does. Hence it 

 is in great demand for the masts and yards of 

 vessels. It enters into the construction of our 

 buildings of every kind as no other wood does. 

 It long ago took the place of the hard-woods, 

 such as the oak and the chestnut, for the frames 

 of buildings and for floor-beams. On account of 

 its being so easily worked by the tools of the 

 carpenter and cabinet-maker, in this respect sur- 

 passing all other woods, it has been almost uni- 

 versally used for the outside covering and the 

 interior finishing of buildings, and for the con- 

 struction of a multitude of articles which minis- 



