134 THE PINES 



in two classes, Soft Pines and Hard Pines. There is a dif- 

 ference not only in the character of the wood, but in the 

 foliage, bark, and general appearance. Nearly all the Pines 

 have more or less of a sticky, limpid, clear substance in the 

 sap wood and live bark, known as crude turpentine. There 

 is less of this in the Soft than in the Hard Pines, and in 

 all the amount varies with the species. As the sapwood 

 changes to heartwood a large part of the volatile portion 

 of the crude turpentine disappears from such wood, leaving 

 in the heartwood what is known as resin. 1 It is the pre- 

 sence of a comparatively large amount of this resin that gives 

 a distinctive character to the Hard Pines. It causes the heart- 

 wood to take on a darker color, adds to its weight and 

 hardness, but this latter feature makes it more difficult 

 to work yet better able to endure wear and abrasion, and 

 enables the wood to resist decay more successfully, when 

 exposed. There is also a more marked distinction between 

 spring and summer wood in the Hard than in the Soft Pine 

 class. There is some resin and turpentine in the Soft Pines, 

 but much less than in the others. 



The lumber trade has adopted a different classification 

 and both manufacturers and dealers now classify pine lum- 

 ber as " White Pine " and " Yellow Pine." So far as char- 

 acter and quality of the wood in Soft and White Pine are 

 concerned, the terms may well be considered synonymous. 

 They include only what are known as Eastern White Pine 

 (Pinus strobus) ; Western White Pine (Pinus monti- 

 cola) ; and Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana). There is so 

 close a resemblance in the character of the lumber cut from 

 all of these species that no serious wrong will be inflicted 

 upon the consumer should either be given him. It is not so, 

 however, with the Yellow Pine class. Under that name will 

 be found Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) ; Cuban Pine 



1 As commercially known " resin " is the solid portion left from the dis- 

 tillation of the crude turpentine -which fills the cells and pores of the sap- 

 wood and live bark of the several species of Hard Pines, and which runs ont 

 when an incision is made therein. The other product is " spirits of turpen- 

 tine," and the two constitute the well-known " naval stores." 



