TRKES OF AMERICA. 227 



their general length is seven or eight inches, 

 and in shape and colour they resemble 

 a huge sweet potato ; the seeds are white 

 (unlike those of all the other pines, which 

 are black), and have an agreeable taste : wild 

 turkeys, and squirrels, and pigs eat them 

 with every appearance of relish. The wood 

 is strong, heavy, and full of resinous matter ; 

 it is moreover fine-grained, and takes a good 

 polish. In the Southern States it is very ex- 

 tensively used in building both ships and 

 houses, and vast quantities of it are consumed 

 in fencing ; and besides, under the name of 

 Georgia pitch pine, it is a great article of ex- 

 portation to the West Indies. Over and above 

 all this, it is subject to great waste of another 

 kind, from the destructive attacks of a small 

 insect which lodges in swarms under the 

 bark, pierces the body of the tree, and causes 

 it to die in the course of the year." 



" Uncle Philip, what does the insect kill the 

 tree for ?" 



"It feeds upon the wood, or rather upon 

 the sap. It is from this tree that the tar, and 

 turpentine, and pitch, and resin are made, 

 as I told you before : if you like, I will de- 



