138 THE PINES. 



From this type, the bark varies with less and less striking color 

 and marking to dark, almost black color and longitudinal Assuring. 

 These darker barked varieties in California usually have the larger 

 cones, and for the most part are found in the lower altitudes, where 

 the ponderosa grows. Nor are these dark barked varieties as tall or as 

 large as the salmon colored plaque barked, small coned ones. The 

 dark bark is not so thick as that of lighter color, and there is a larger 

 proportion of sap to heart wood in the dark trees. 



These varieties in the cone and bark have persuaded some botanists 

 that the yellow pine's brother, Pinus Jeffrey}, is but another variety 

 and not a true species by itself. Better acquaintance corrects this 

 mistake. 



The black pine is found in the higher altitudes and is at its best 

 about 7,000 feet above the sea. It is also found at lower levels. In 

 Northern California the black pine appears to affect hotter, drier 

 ground than P. ponderosa and at about same elevation. 



The striking differences between these species are as follows: The 

 yearling cones are purple instad of green, with larger prickles. The 

 mature cone is much larger, more base broken and of pyramidal 

 shape, and not so flaringly open when ripe. The leaves are covered 

 with a delicate silvery powder, not present in ponderosa. Their taste 

 and odor are much more delicate and sweeter. In fact, these pines 

 have songs of their own, tastes of their own, odors of their own, and 

 wood of their own. The yearling cone color is enough to separate these 

 two species, even to the most casual observer. 



There are several varieties of Jeffreyi also with bark color, vary- 

 ing from brown in broad check lO dark red and black, with lateral 

 fissures. 



While these varieties of form make some confusion for the begin- 

 ner, these species can be separated by an examination of the yearling 

 cones and a careful look at the foliage; the silvery powder of the Jef- 

 freyi is, however, very light on the leaves and has to be looked for and 

 r-ubbed off to be sure of it. The taste and smell of the leaves is very 

 different. That of the ponderosa is strongly of the pine, while that 

 of the Jefferyi is delicate and suggestive of oranges. 



This pair of pines is easy to separate from the others by the broken 

 base of the cone. Other cones that are base-broken are those of the 

 long persistent cone-holding pines. Such cones are forced off by the 

 growth of the tree, or by violence. 



The first pine you meet in the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada is 



