PITCH PINE 163 



result. If properly handled, this will not occur, nor will it 

 warp or split when seasoning. 



It is an early and prolific seeder, frequently producing 

 fertile seeds at the age of ten years. From that age on it 

 can be depended upon for a crop at least every other year. 

 The cones are longer and slimmer than those of the Short- 

 leaf Pine, but are seldom over three inches in length. They 

 open slowly on ripening, thus giving ample opportunity 

 for the winds to distribute the seed in all directions from 

 the parent tree. It is not unusual for cones to hold some 

 seeds until the spring succeeding their maturity. Fertile 

 seeds may remain in cones adhering to the tree for a full 

 year, which greatly aids natural reproduction, as the seeds 

 are sure to be widely scattered. 



Natural reproduction can be depended upon if proper 

 conditions are allowed to prevail, and little need be said 

 regarding artificial propagation. The seedlings develop a 

 tap-root from five to seven or more inches long the first 

 year, which increases rapidly in succeeding years ; hence 

 transplanting from the nursery would probably be difficult. 

 Only by gathering seeds and planting in hills can any 

 practical aid be given, aside from permitting Nature to 

 carry on the work, which she will do if seed trees are left 

 and she is not interfered with. While not equal in quality 

 to some of our Hard Pines, it possesses many valuable fea- 

 tures, and, therefore, it is highly important that, wherever 

 possible, efforts should be made to perpetuate it as an 

 economic forest tree. When full grown it can endure forest 

 fires remarkably well. 



PITCH PINE : Pinus rigida 



IF it were to stand only on its merits as a lumber-pro- 

 ducing tree, irrespective of any other redeeming quality, 

 Pitch Pine could not be considered of sufficient value to 

 be classed among the timber trees of our country. There 

 are other species of Pine which yield far better lumber, 



