7 



26. Shortleaf pine, PiNUS ECHINATA.— The needles are 

 from 3 to 5 inches long; they occur 2 and 3 in a cluster. 

 The cones are 1 and a half to 2 and a half inches long, and 

 occur on short stalks. 



27. The wood weighs about 35 pounds to the cubic foot. 

 Like the longleaf, it is used for many purposes, although for 

 most purposes it is inferior to it. 



28. The shortleaf occurs in all parts of the State. 



29. The pines have long, straight stems that are adapt- 

 ed to sawing into lumber. Their wood is easily worked with 

 saw, plane, and chisel. It has considerable strength, and in 

 most cases a pleasing grain. Its weight is less than most 

 of the hardwoods, and this lessens the cost of handling 

 it. The combination of good qualities found in the pines 

 make them the most useful of all timber trees. The four 

 spoken of above are the most important in Georgia; but 

 six others occur in the State, and some of them have local 

 importance. 



30. Bald cypress, Taxodium distichum.— The leaves 

 are from one-half to three-fourths of an inch long, and oc- 

 cur in two ranks along the slender branches. There is a 

 form with foliage appressed to the branches; but the other 

 form is the more common. Unlike most of the conifers, to 

 which family it belongs, the cypress sheds its foliage in win- 

 ter, which gives the tree a bald appearance, hence the name 

 Bald Cypress. Although classed with the cone-bearers, the 

 resemblance of the fruits to cones is not apparent unless ex- 

 amined closely; they are about one inch through and nearly 

 round, 



31. The wood weighs 29 pounds to the cubic foot. It 

 is easily worked; and it lasts well in contact with the soil. 



