136 THE PINES 



western slope of those mountains to West Virginia, from 

 there in a northwest course across southern Ohio, central 

 Indiana, and Iowa to the western line of Minnesota up to 

 the Canadian line, and from there along the northern bor- 

 der of the United States eastward to the Atlantic Ocean. 

 There are some outlying tracts not included within these 

 lines in which it grows and also some localities included 

 where there is none to be found. In a general way, however, 

 the territory embraced in the boundaries given may be 

 considered as covering the original White Pine region. 

 There is no doubt but that its botanical range is greater 

 than noted, and that its area can be considerably increased. 

 It thrives in England, France, and the German Empire. 

 It does not grow equally well, however, in all sections of 

 our country in which it is found, yet it will grow in a greater 

 diversity of soils and situations than any other valuable 

 timber tree. Its best development has been found in Maine, 

 southern New York, central and northern Pennsylvania, 

 northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. South of 

 Pennsylvania, Central Michigan, and Wisconsin it has been 

 neither as abundant nor as large and valuable, but, for all 

 that, it is well worthy of cultivation there. While it grows 

 wonderfully rapidly in early life on the southern Appala- 

 chian Mountains, it loses its vigor in middle life and does 

 not reach the size it does farther north. Besides this, the 

 wood frequently becomes red in the heart of the older 

 trees and is not so easily worked. It is seldom found grow- 

 ing below fifteen hundred feet above the sea in its extreme 

 southern range. 



It flourishes best in fertile, well-drained soils where its 

 roots can reach a full supply of food and moisture, but it 

 will grow remarkably well on dry sandy soils and gravelly 

 hillsides. Anywhere in its natural range, except where very 

 wet or where exposed to severe winds on high ridges and 

 mountain-sides, it may be depended upon to grow with 

 promise of good results. It will grow even in swamps 

 and on sand hills, but its growth there is slow and uncer- 



