The Pines 



and climate, and out of their chosen range aie unhappy and 

 unhealthy. But here is a species which seems to have forgotten 

 family traditions, and become a citizen of the world, as far as that 

 is possible. It grows to great size in the arid foothills of southern 

 Oregon, where the soil is volcanic in origin. In the Black Hills 

 it roots itself solidly in sterile rocky soil, and is the dominant tree 

 of these mountain forests. In the arid Southwest, on mountain 

 and mesa, this tree is the principal source of lumber. It is the 

 only pine tree native to Nebraska that thrives in ,the droughty 

 western counties. This is the tree that inhabits the western 

 slopes of the coast mountains from British Columbia to Lower 

 California, as if the moisture-laden winds from the Pacific were 

 the very breath of life to it. Finally, the same tree is found 

 wading into swamps on the slopes of the Cascades. Its elevation 

 ranges from 2,500 feet to the timber line. 



A tree that clambers over mountains and meets so much 

 variety of soil, elevation and climate must show variations in 

 character to adapt it to its life. In the old lake basins on the 

 Sierra slopes it reaches the height of 200 feet and more — with a 

 trunk diameter up to 8 feet. These are the giants of the 

 species, van Jeffreyi. In swamps, and near the timber line the 

 trees are stunted, and have black bark, in distinct contrast with 

 the bright-red rind of the typical tree. Several species have 

 already been made out of the forms this tree assumes in various 

 situations. Closer study will doubtless lead to still finer distinc- 

 tions. The common origin of these forms is not doubted; they 

 are all P. ponder osa. 



Knowing something of the extensive range of this tree, we 

 are ready to appreciate the beauty of a single specimen. The 

 central shaft rises like a spire, rugged if old, and massive at the 

 base, lifting its head far into the blue and clothing itself with 

 short, leafy branches most of the way down, if there is room. 

 The young trees, under 100 feet high, are pictures of tree vigour, 

 still " having the dew of their youth and the beauty thereof," 

 waving their arms, that catch and reflect the light upon burnished 

 needles. Against the dark-green mantle the ruddy flowers and 

 purple cones glow in their season, and new leaves lighten the 

 whole tree throughout the summer. 



The habit of breaking off its cones and leaving the stem and 

 the first few scales still hanging is one of the characteristics of 



43 



