40 



states. The bark is dark reddish-brown and has a scaly appear- 

 ance. The crown of the tree is very open and the foliage thin. 

 The leaves or needles are generally less than 2 inches in length 

 and have a light or yellowish green appearance. This pine 

 will endure the poorest, sandy soil ; in fact, it has been planted 

 with success in almost pure sand and where the conditions dur- 

 ing the growing season are dry and trying. Like other trees, 

 however, its best development is obtained on a good, sandy 

 loam soil. It is a short-lived tree, a rapid grower iind a prolific 

 seeder. In its native range it is one of the first trees to come 

 in after the forest has been destroyed by fire. In central Iowa, 

 on good soil, the jack pine makes a somewhat greater height 

 growth than either the white or red pines during the first 10 

 or 12 years. . 



The Wood'. The wood is weak, light, fairly hard and 

 rather coarse grained. The lumber is generally knotty. The 

 wood is not durable in contact with the soil. It is not used ex- 

 tensively for lumber except where more desirable woods are 

 not available. The small, trees make very satisfactory box 

 boards and they may be used for fence posts if given a treat- 

 ment of creosote. 



Planting*. The jack pine is not recommended for general 

 planting in Iowa, due to other more desirable species being 

 available. Its persistence on poor, sandy soils and its rapidity 

 of growth make it desirable for use in restricted localities. 



For windbreak planting space the trees about 10 by 12 feet 

 apart. For commercial planting give them close spacing of 

 about 6 by 6 feet in order to have the trees shade off the side 

 branches early in their growth. Because of the hardiness of 

 this species, it is of+en possible to use seedling trees 8 to 12 

 inches in height, which can be grown in three years. 



The jack pine has little value for ornamental planting, 

 due to its thin foliage and somewhat scrubby appearance. 



WESTERN YELLOW PINE (BULL PINE) ( Pinus ponflfrota) 



The Tree \ The western yellow pine is a native of the 

 western part of the United States. The range of one form of 

 this pine extends as far east as South Dakota and Nebraska. 

 The resistance of the tree to adverse climatic conditions has 

 been largely responsible for the extension of its range by plant- 

 ing. It is found under a great variety of soil, moisture and 

 climatic conditions. It makes a splendid lumber tree in the 

 west coast mountains where there is an abundance of moisture 

 and it is the only one of commercial importance in large areas 

 of the dry southwest and the eastern foothills of the rocky 

 mountains. 



The mature trees are large, sometimes reaching a diameter 

 of 7 or more feet and a height of 200 feet. The bark on old 

 trees has a distinctive yellow color and a plated appearance, 



