22 BULLETIlSr 820, TJ. S. DEPAETMEFT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUPPLY OF JACK PINE TIMBER. 



The largest supply of jack pine timber in the United States is in 

 Minnesota, north of 46° of latitude. State Forester Cox in July, 

 1916, roughly estimated this supply at 5 billion board feet/ with 10 

 million cords of material obtainable from trees under 8 inches in 

 diameter. He also stated it as his belief that jack pine in that State 

 is probably growing more rapidly than it is being cut, although fires 

 destroy annually a great deal of the young growth. 



In 1898, Prof. Filibert Roth said ^ of the supply of jack pme in 

 "Wisconsin : 



At present it is not used to any extent, neither stumpage nor logs having real com- 

 mercial value, except where used as fuel and for farm purposes. The stand of tliis 

 pine, if taken down to 4 inches, is about 3J billion feet, of which about half might be 

 used for dimension stuff, while the rest could be employed as pulpwood.^ 



The supply of saw stuff has doubtless been considerably reduced 

 since that time. With respect to trees suitable for cordwood and 

 pulpwood, however, new growth has probably equaled the amount 

 that has been cut in clearing and lumbering. 



A recent compilation by the author of the Forest Resources of 

 Michigan places the stand of possible jack pine saw timber at 1-1/5 

 billion board feet. There would be more than this much again of 

 pulpwood. In New York and New England the stand of jack pine' 

 is negligible. 



Bulletin 50 of the Canadian Forestry Branch contains an estimate 

 for 1915 of from 7 to 8 billion board feet of jack pine timber in Mani- 

 toba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. 



The supply of jack pine is more nearly keepmg pace with the annual 

 cut than that of either Norway or white pine. On the one hand, the 

 market for it is more limited because of the small size of its timber; 

 and, on the other, it reproduces freely on cut-over or burned land 

 formerly occupied by these more valuable species. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WOOD. 



SuperficiaUy the wood of jack pine is similar to that of Norway 

 and white pines. The sapwood is nearly white and the heartwood 

 light brown to pale orange. In trees under 50 years of age the wood 

 is mostly sap, the proportion gradually decreasing with age. Even 

 in 100-year-old trees the sapwood often constitutes half the volume. 



The wood is soft, light, a cubic foot of kiln-dried lumber weighing 

 about 30 pounds, not strong nor tough, straight and rather coarse- 

 grained, easily worked, easily split, and apt to warp and check in 



1 A recent compilation by the author of the forest resources of Minnesota places the stand at 2J billion 

 board, feet. 



2 Bulletin 16, Division of Forestry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



» The stand of jack pine saw timber 8 inches and over in Wisconsin is placed in a recent compilation by 

 the author at 11 billion feet. 



