374 NATURE-STUDY 



White pine is so valuable because it is light, soft, and easy 

 to cut and nail, durable, and insect proof. 



In the South the Georgia longleaf, and the North Carolina 

 hard pines are the chief woods used for lumber. These are 

 often used in the North for interior finishing, ceiling, and 

 flooring. They are yellow pines. 



The cypress of the southern swamps is also extensively 

 used now for lumber. In the North the spruce is a common 

 building stuff, and hemlock, though poor in quahty, is also 

 used. In the western coast forests the redwood is the 

 chief lumber tree. It is brownish, soft, and very durable, 

 and is largely used for shingles. 



The hard woods are more difficult to saw, plane, and nail, 

 but they are stronger, and tougher than the pines, etc., and 

 therefore find many applications. They also show a fine 

 grain, and take polish well, hence they are much used for 

 interior finishing and for furniture. Heavy oak timbers 

 enter into the construction of buildings and bridges. 



These are some of the chief uses of lumber. The industry 

 in its various stages is an interesting one to study. Chil- 

 dren like to learn about lumber camps, the felHng of the 

 trees, the dragging of the logs to the rivers, the driving 

 dovm the streams, the log booms, the saw-mills, lumber yards, 

 the shipment of the lumber, and the various uses to which 

 it is put. It would be instructive to trace a white-pine tree 

 from the forest to the various purposes for which it is used. 



Arbor Day — Beautifying School-grounds 



Arbor Day is now universally and fittingly observed by 

 the schools. Secretary Wilson in his report in the 1899 

 " Year Book of the Department of Agriculture " says : " Prom- 



