PINE FAMILY 
bark, and fairly clear of resin. They are scattered along the 
branches and are not very numerous. They hold their seeds 
fairly well. In the spring as the snow begins to go and the 
birds come back, the little red-breasted cross-bill stops on 
its way north to feed on these seeds. The birds come in 
flocks and take possession of a tree; and it is interesting 
to see their little hooked bills jerk out the seeds from the 
cones. The Red Pine should find a place in every park. 
LOBLOLLY PINE. OLD FIELD PINE 
Pinus taeda. 
Taeda, the torch, was the classical name of a resinous pine tree. 
Varying from eighty to one hundred feet with a tall straight trunk. 
A southern tree but ranging as far north as New Jersey. Inhabits 
the low lands adjacent to tide-water : rarely makes pure forests. 
Loves the swamps, but is found in 
the sandy borders of Pine-barrens. 
In the southwest it becomes an im- 
portant timber tree. Grows rapidly; 
tap root large and strong. Fragrant. 
Lark.—Reddish brown with shal- 
low fissures and broad, flat, scaly 
ridges. Branchlets glaucous, 
smooth, yellow brown and covered 
with the brown, reflexed, inner 
scales of the branch-buds which 
persist for several years. 
Wood.—WVariable in value, light 
brown, sapwood pale. The more 
northern tree produces lumber 
which is weak, brittle, coarse- 
grained, not durable ; the southern 
tree produces a better quality ; 
resinous. 
uds.—Branch - buds, obovate- 
oblong, acute or acuminate at 
apex, with brown scales which 
terminate in long, slender, dark 
Loblolly Pine, Pinus taeda. tips. Terminal buds much larger 
Leaves ( to 10/ long. than the lateral buds. 
452 
