Types: In the natural states there are three distinct types of 

 white pine stands in this State. They are : 



1. Pure white pine stands such as are common on old 



fields where over 80% of the trees in the stand are 

 White pine. 



2. White pine mixed with other conifers, spruce and fir 



being most common in the mixture. 



3. White pine mixed with hardwoods, birch, maple and 



beech in old stands, and poplar and aspen in young 

 stands. 



The first type is found chiefly on abandoned fields that have 

 been reforested by natural regeneration, and this is the type that 

 is most common in the south-western part of the State, south 

 of the Androscoggin River. The other two types are general in 

 their distribution. 



Ability to Endure Shade: The seedlings, when young will 

 endure and in fact will profit by considerable shade; but after 

 the first few years, the trees require full light for their best 

 development. They should, therefore, never be planted with 

 any other trees that have a more rapid height growth for these 

 latter would eventually overtop the pine and kill it out by ex- 

 cessive shading. 



Rate of Grozvth: Figures taken from growth studies of 

 plantations throughout New England show that the growth of 

 these stands is more rapid than it is in the virgin forest of the 

 same species, averaging from 1-4 to 1-3 of an inch each year. 

 At this rate saw-timber may be produced in 60 to 70 years, and 

 timber suitable for the making of box-boards, pails, and match 

 stock in about half that time. 



Quality of Wood: White pine is one of the best of our east- 

 ern species for general construction, but the supply for this 

 purpose is no longer equal to the demand. It is light colored, 

 easy to work, does not warp or twist, and has a moderately soft, 

 smooth, straight grain. 



Second-growth timber is apt to be more branchy and the lum- 

 ber from it is therefore more knotty than that from virgin 

 stands, but even this lower grade lumber finds a ready market 

 for box-boards, pail-staves, woodenware, straight-staved cooper- 

 age and match stock. Being mostly sap wood, it is not as dur- 

 able in the ground or in exposed places as the older pine. 



