164 THE PINES 



grow faster, and are as easily propagated ; but there are 

 none east of the Mississippi River which will grow where 

 this can or will so well maintain themselves against that foe 

 of all trees, the forest fire. By its growth laud unfitted for 

 any other purpose can be utilized, the ground covered and 

 protected from erosion, and a moderate yield of somewhat 

 inferior lumber produced. It is not loaded down with a 

 multitude of names, but is almost universally known by 

 the one here given, although several others have been be- 

 stowed upon it. This name was undoubtedly hit upon be- 

 cause the wood contains more resin than any of its northern 

 associates. Its botanical appellation rigida refers to 

 the rigid character of its leaves. 



The natural range of the Pitch Pine is not very extended, 

 reaching from Maine to Ohio along our northern border, 

 and south to northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee. Its 

 best development is along the Atlantic Coast from Massa- 

 chusetts southward to North Carolina. It was once found 

 in pure stands in a large part of New Jersey, Delaware, 

 and eastern Maryland. It is particularly adapted to sandy, 

 sterile plains, dry, gravelly, stony uplands, and bleak and 

 barren wind-swept ridges and mountain-tops, where what 

 little soil may there be found is quickly dried out by per- 

 sistent winds. Notwithstanding that it will grow to best 

 advantage in the localities named, it is not averse to creep- 

 ing into moist ground. 



It seldom grows to a height of seventy-five feet or a 

 diameter of thirty inches, although records of a height of 

 ninety feet and a diameter of three feet are not lacking. In its 

 youth the tree is quite symmetrical, but in its old age it is 

 anything but graceful in form. Its crown is then unbalanced 

 with branched, distorted, and specialized limbs. It is a light- 

 demanding tree, but unless crowded it will be clothed with 

 limbs from near the ground up. Its ability to withstand 

 fire is very great. It is not unusual to see the bark of the 

 stems blackened by fire for eight or ten feet above the 

 ground and the tree's crown showing little lack of vigor, 



