PINES. 143 



maturity when about 20 years old and seldom lasts much 

 longer when on dry soil. It has been planted more largely 

 than any other evergreen on our prairies and perhaps is as 

 good as any for pioneer plantings. 



The wood of this tree is valuable for interior finishing and 

 is largely used in Europe, where it is the common timber 

 pine. The celebrated pine of Norway and the Baltic countries 

 is of this species. What has been termed the best form of 

 this and known as Riga Pine has been partially tried in this 

 country bub thus far its superiority has not been demonstrated. 



"This pine yields a considerable portion of the common 

 European turpentine. In Germany a fibrous substance is 

 prepared from the leaves of this and other species of Pinus 

 and Abies, called fir-wool, and a volatile oil is distilled from 

 them called fir-wool oil which is considerably used as a 

 remedy for rheumatism, chronic catarrh, chronic skin dis- 

 eases, etc., in fact, generally for the same purposes as the oil 

 of turpentine. The leaves are made into wadding and cloth- 

 ing ( designated as fir-wool from their origin ) which are 

 supposed to have some merit in the treatment of rheumatic 

 affections." 



Pinus laricio austriaca. Austrian Pine. Black Pine. 



Leaves 2 in a sheath, dark green, slender but rigid, 4 to 

 6 inches long, falling during fourth and fifth seasons. Cones 

 2i to 3 inches long, conical, not beaked. Tree much more 

 regular in outline than the Scotch Pine; the branches coming 

 out in a very regular candelabra-like fashion. There are a 

 few cultivated varieties. 



Distribution. Native of southern and central Europe. 



Propagation. By seeds, seedlings require shading when 

 young. 



Properties of wood. Light, soft, durable, very rich in tur- 

 pentine. Specific gravity, air dried ( 0.57. 



Uses. The Austrian Pine in very desirable for planting 

 in this section, rather longer lived and perhaps hardier than 

 the Scotch Pine and of a much darker color resembling most 

 closely the Norway Pine. 



