THE PINES 235 



intelligence governs the industry, and distillation processes 

 have been installed. 



The Shortleaf Pine 

 P. echinata. Mill. 



The shortleaf pine ranks second to the longleaf in im- 

 portance to the lumber industries of the East and South. 

 It ranges from Staten Island, New York, to north Florida, 

 and west through West Virginia, eastern Tennessee, 

 southern Missouri, Louisiana and eastern Texas. It 

 reaches its largest size and greatest abundance west of the 

 Mississippi River, where great forests, practically un- 

 touched thirty years ago, have become the centre of the 

 "yellow pine'* industry, out of which vast fortunes have 

 been made. The wood is preferred by builders, because it 

 is less rich in resin, softer and therefore more easily worked. 

 Young trees yield turpentine and pitch, and with the long- 

 leaf and the Cuban pine much forest growth has suffered 

 destruction in the production of these commodities. 



The slender tree equals the longleaf in height and bears 

 its dark green leaves in clusters of twos and threes, scat- 

 tered on short branches that form a narrow loose head. 

 The pale green, stout branchlets are lightened by the silvery 

 sheaths of the young leaves (see illustrations, pages 2H-215) 

 which are short only in comparison with the companion 

 species, the longleaf. The cones are abundant; the seeds 

 numerous, winged for flight, retaining their vitality longer 

 tlian most pine seeds. The tree is less sensitive to in- 

 juries and has the propensity, unusual in the pine family, 

 of throwing up suckers from the roots. In open com- 

 petition, this pine will hold its own against the invasion of 



