WHITE PINE 139 



for the increased diameter of the tree gives a greater area 

 on which it is to be deposited and the accretion must cover 

 more surface. The total amount of annual accretion in- 

 creases quite regularly until the tree reaches the age of 

 seventy-five or eighty years, and sometimes more, and then 

 the amount of wood annually laid on appears to be quite 

 uniform until an age of one hundred and twenty-five or 

 one hundred and fifty years has been reached, when it be- 

 gins to lessen, and continues to do so from that time on. 

 This conclusion has been reached by a careful and patient 

 examination of the annual rings of a large number of forest 

 trees which were being cut for lumber, and in widely dif- 

 ferent regions. 



The wood of the White Pine is soft, not strong, straight- 

 and fine-grained, moderately durable, light, shrinks but 

 moderately, and does not warp or split in seasoning or 

 when a nail is driven into it close to the end. It is easily 

 worked and takes glue and paint well. If varnished with- 

 out stain its light, buff-colored heartwood gradually turns 

 a rich transparent brown, closely resembling mahogany in 

 color, with a rich satiny lustre. No wood, unless it is oak, 

 has been so abused with stains and paint as White Pine 

 when used for interior finish. Few woods can equal it in 

 richness of color and texture when properly treated and 

 time given it. For a long time it was the only softwood 

 that lumbermen and consumers of the Northern States 

 would consider of any value. It was used for a wide range 

 of purposes, probably none ever used for so many, 

 and it would still be so used to-day did not its scarcity and 

 high price prevent. To enumerate all the uses it can be put 

 to would be to name about everything wood is used for 

 except where great durability when exposed to the soil is 

 demanded, or where strength, hardness, and toughness are 

 exacted. 



The sapwood is slightly lighter in color than the heart- 

 wood and does not darken so much with age. It is quite 

 highly charged with turpentine. The change which occurs 



