CHAP. XXXII.] RED PINE. 351 



ment, derives its name from the reddish colour of its 

 bark. 



It is a native of the United States and Canada, in 

 North America, where it attains a height of from 70 to 

 100 feet, with a circumference of from 4 to S feet. It is 

 more slender than the Pitch Pine, and yields the timber 

 of commerce in logs of from 10 to 18 inches square, 

 and from 16 to 50 feet in length. The tree is of erect 

 growth, with a tendency to slight curvature at the butt 

 or root end of the stem, and, like most other Pines 

 and Firs, has numerous though not usually heavy 

 branches. 



The wood is white, tinged with yellow or straw 

 colour ; it is tough, elastic, moderately strong, and pos- 

 sesses a clean fine grain, which works up well, leaving 

 upon the surface a smooth silky lustre. It is not apt to 

 shrink, split, or warp much in seasoning, and, technically 

 speaking, it stands well, which renders it a choice and 

 very valuable wood for all kinds of construction, while 

 in the domestic arts there need not be any limit to its 

 application. 



The Red Pine is very solid about the pith or centre 

 of the log, and has but little alburnum or sap-wood. 

 There is, therefore, only a small amount of loss in its 

 conversion, even if reduced to planks and boards ; while 

 it can further be worked with great advantage in ship- 

 building, for deck purposes, for cabin, and for other 

 fitments. 



With every season's fall of this timber there are a 

 few rough spars selected for hand-masts, holding about 

 the same dimensions as those obtained from Riga. 

 These spars, however, are very few in proportion to the 

 number of trees felled, owing to the fact before men- 

 tioned, that the trees are not generally quite straight. 



