50 



EVERGREENS OF COLORADO 



FOREST BY-PRODUCTS. 



Among the secondary tree products which 

 have been or may be developed from the 

 forests in Colorado, are charcoal, resin, tur- 

 pentine, essential oils, and seeds. The pinyon 

 pine at one time was extensively employed 

 in the production of charcoal which was 

 largely used in the iron smelters before the 

 introduction of the Bessemer steel process. 

 At the present time the production of char- 

 coal is not an important industry in this 

 state. 



Experiments which have been carried on 

 by the Forest Service during the past three 

 years have shown that western yellow pine 

 is capable of producing resin and turpentine 

 of equal quality with that now largely ob- 

 tained from the long leaf pine of the south- 

 eastern states. The experiments in Arizona 

 have shown a total yield of resin from yel- 

 low pine about four-fifths as great as that 

 obtained from the southern pines. The lower 

 rate, however, can be ascribed in all prob- 

 ability to the shorter season of production 

 under western climatic conditions. While 

 the season in Colorado during which tur- 

 pentine production could be worked is con- 

 siderably shorter than that in Arizona, still 

 it is possible that in time this industry may 

 be developed within our borders. 



A note from an Eastern Forestry period- 

 ical of the present year states that the 

 volatile oils distilled from the needles of 

 spruce and fir trees are being used to scent 

 petroleum floor oils, which may be objec- 

 tionable on account of their odor. The 

 abundance of these species in Colorado 

 should make it possible to utilize this by- 

 product which is wasted in our lumbering 

 operations as now carried on. 

 For many centuries, doubtless, the use of the seeds of certain pines 

 has been made by the Indians of this region for food. This is particu- 

 larly true of the pinyon or nut pine, the seeds of which are of large 

 size, rich in oil and of excellent flavor. These seeds can be found in 

 almost any confectioner's stand where fruits and nuts are for sale. These 



Fig. 33. Alpine Fir. 

 Perfect form. 



