of New York 27 



THE PINES 



THE PINES are the most important group of evergreen for- 

 est trees native to New York. In addition to the six 

 native species, a large number have been planted within the 

 State for ornamental purposes and for reforestation. The 

 six pines native to New York are White Pine, Pitch Pine, 

 Red Pine, Jack Pine, Short-leaf Pine, and Jersey or Scrub 

 Pine. 



The Pines can be distinguished from the other forest trees 

 by their long needle-like leaves, which are grouped in clusters 

 of 2, 3 or 5. Their leaves persist for 2 to 3 or more years. 

 This places them among the evergreen trees, which contribute 

 so much to the beauty of our rural landscape at all seasons 

 of the year, especially in winter. 



In studying the evergreen trees of New York it is well to 

 remember that Spruces have short, stiff, 4-sided needles which 

 are attached to the twigs by a short brown stalk. The Bal- 

 sam Fir and the Hemlock have short flat needles which appear 

 to be arranged in two lateral rows. A close examination of 

 the twigs shows, however, that they are arranged spirally 

 about the twigs. Those of the Hemlock are marked with 

 two white lines on the lower surface and attached to the 

 twigs by short stalks, while those of the Balsam Fir are pale 

 green below and without stalks. The leaves of the Arbor 

 Vitas and White Cedar are scale-like, while the Red Cedar 

 has both scale-like and awl-like leaves. The American Larch 

 is the only native conifer that sheds all of its leaves each 

 autumn. Its short needle-like leaves occur singly on the 

 twigs of last season's growth and in clusters of ten or more 

 on the spurs of the older growth. 



The following table will be helpful in getting acquainted 

 with the New York Pines: 



Five needles in a cluster White Pine 



Usually three needles in a cluster Pitch Pine 



Two or three needles in a cluster Short-leaf Pine 



Two needles in a cluster: 



a. Needles slender, 5 to 6 inches long Red Pine 



b. Needles, slender, twisted, spreading, 



\Yi to 3 inches long-— Jersey or Scrub Pine 



c. Needles curved and twisted, 24 to 



1 Y* inches long Jack Pine 



