1894.] 1 i 4 [Rothrock. 



3 Piuus mitis Miclix Short-leaved yellow pine, j'ellow 



pine. 



2 Pinus resinosa Ait Norway pine, red pine. 



2 Picea nigra Link Black spruce. 



1 Tsiiga Canadensis Carr Hemlock. 



2 Abies balsamea Miller Balsam, balsam fir. 



2 Larix Americana Micbx Hackmatack, larch, tamarack. 



2 Thuya occidentalis L Arbor vitae. 



The above trees I have divided into a first, second and third class, and 

 designated the class by a corresponding figure to the left of the name. 

 Commercial importance and abundance are made the basis of this arti- 

 ficial classification : the only merit of which is that it will serve to 

 impress certain leading fiicts. 



The nomenclature adopted is that of Gray's Manual of Botany, which 

 will remain the popular authority until superseded by a more modern 

 book. 



II. I\IosT Important Timber-producing Areas in Pennsylvania. 



The words, " most important" timber-producing areas, are, of course, in 

 one sense, relative, because they carry a twofold meaning, i. e., important 

 as to quantity produced, and important as to the uses made of each kind 

 of wood. In one sense we might consider hemlock and white pine the 

 most important for Pennsylvania ; because the former is a characteristic 

 tree of our State, and the latter one of immense commercial importance. 

 "We shall, however, use the words more especially in regard to the quanti- 

 ties produced on land which may be regarded as by nature better adapted 

 to tlie growtli of timber trees than to any other purpose. 



This would naturally suggest the mountain areas of the Commonwealth. 

 It must be remembered, however, that an exclusive consideration of these 

 regions would practically exclude the soil on which our best white oak, 

 black walnut, ash, tulip poplar and linden have grown. Furthermore, 

 land now of more value for agricultural purposes than for any other uses 

 might by some change in price of crops, or by other commercial perturba- 

 tions, be ultimately found of greater value in production of some quick- 

 growing kind of timber. This chance is quite within the limits of pos- 

 sibility in the case, for example, of the chestnut tree, if the fruit should 

 ever become, as in Southern Europe, an important article of food and a 

 stimulus be given to the production of choice varieties of the tree. Indeed 

 it is by no means certain that we shall not very soon have an example in 

 the increased demand for young chestnut as a source of supply for tannin. 



Extending northeast from the southern border of the Slate through the 

 central third is a region of varied topographical characters. Much of it is 

 mountainous and rocky, and but for the possible discovery of mineral 

 resources, and those already known, is of no value except for the growth 

 of timber. The actual area of the land of this character is not yei 



