172 THE PINES 



serious injury. "Western Yellow Pine is frequently found 

 in pure stands, but it tolerates other species for neighbors 

 if not too close. The extended area of its natural habitat 

 makes it one of the most important trees of the great West. 

 The leaves are borne in heavy, brush-like clusters at the 

 ends of the bare branches, and are deep yellow-green, gen- 

 erally three in a sheath, but sometimes two, four, and even 

 five. They vary from five to eleven inches in length and re- 

 main on the tree three or four years or more Professor 

 Sargent says four to nine. 



The heartwood varies greatly in color as well as in other 

 economic features. It may be found from a pale lemon- 

 yellow to an orange-brown, and, while it is usually of heavy 

 weight, wood may be found fully five or even ten per cent 

 lighter. It is sometimes so light and free from resin that it 

 is sold as White Pine and provides a reasonably fair sub- 

 stitute. The sapwood is nearly white and of varying thick- 

 ness. Although not strictly applicable to all cases owing 

 to variability it may be said of the wood that it is gen- 

 erally heavy, hard, fairly strong, brittle, and fine-grained, 

 but not durable, although all these features may be differ- 

 ent through varying conditions of climate and soil. There is 

 some difference between spring and summer wood, but gen- 

 erally not enough to interfere seriously with easy working. 

 The medullary rays are somewhat numerous, but not at all 

 conspicuous. It is used for heavy construction work, rail- 

 road ties, telegraph poles, mine timbers, and for about all 

 purposes to which a good, not very strong, but moderately 

 hard Pine can be put. 



It is a prolific seeder, bearing cones nearly every year, 

 and an ample yield may be expected about every four 

 years. Like most other Pines, it does not produce many 

 fertile seeds before twenty-five or thirty years of age. After 

 that its seeds are unusually fertile. The seed is not much 

 larger than that of White Pine, but with a broader wing, 

 which permits its being blown to a great distance. The 

 cones open early in August of the second year and are vari- 



