160 THE PINES 



thick sapwood. All of these characteristics may and do vary 

 with location. The heartwood is moderately durable, having 

 more or less resin in it, but as in all other timber Pines, the 

 sapwood decays rapidly when exposed. There is a marked 

 difference between summer and spring growth both in color 

 and hardness. The medullary rays are numerous but incon- 

 spicuous. Both heartwood and sapwood grow darker with 

 age. It is used for substantially the same purposes as Long- 

 leaf, except where great strength and durability when ex- 

 posed are demanded, although much of it is by no means 

 a weak wood, while its heartwood will resist decay fairly 

 well. The lack of uniformity in character and strength is 

 one serious obstacle to its more general use for heavy work. 

 Lumber sawed from it should be promptly kiln-dried, as a 

 fungus attacks the sapwood and rapidly discolors it. For a 

 long time "blueing," as the discoloration is termed, was a 

 serious drawback to its introduction, but now that modern 

 ingenuity has overcome that, no objection is made to the 

 sapwood for many purposes where not exposed. 



As indicated, natural reforestation will rapidly take place 

 if conditions are at all favorable, and if care were taken to 

 aid Nature in that work there would be no need to resort 

 to the expensive method of raising trees in a nursery or 

 even to plant seeds where the trees are to grow. However, 

 as the seedlings do not develop a tap-root of any import- 

 ance until three or four years old, ample time is given to 

 transplant before that is seriously in the way. Seed gather- 

 ing and care of the same should be carried on along the 

 same lines laid down for White Pine, and so, too, should 

 planting and setting out trees be conducted, if it be found 

 necessary or desirable. Seedlings one year old are amply 

 large for transplanting. It is greatly to be regretted that 

 so little effort is being put forth to aid this valuable tree 

 to maintain its existence, which it will do if permitted. 



