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seedlings were imported from Germany for reforestation purposes 

 from those very trees that, in the form of seed, originally went 

 from this country. Throughout continental Europe white pine 

 has been planted to such an extent that it is now regarded as a 

 naturalized member of the forests there. 



To return to the group at hand we should observe that the 

 splendid tree in the center toward the northern end differs from 

 the others. Its branches are not so horizontal but rather ascend- 

 ing. It is a beautiful thing, indeed, but its beauty is somewhat 

 marred by its setting here. If we look across the road on our left 

 we see a similar tree between the road and path on that side, pyra- 

 midal in contrast to the other three white pines adjoining it to the 

 right. These particular trees represent a natural variety of the 

 common white pine, known as Columnar White-Pine, Pinus 

 Strobus var. fastigiata or var. pyramidalis. 



Pinus Strobus is further characterized by having its bluish- 

 green and somewhat feathery-looking foliage distributed in hori- 

 zontal masses along the branches which occur in regular whorls. 

 Furthermore, there are tufts of hair below the insertions of the 

 leaves. Especially in old age is white pine a thing of beauty, 

 when a tall bole bears high up near its crown far-reaching limbs 

 that seem to be horizontal arms supporting platters of upright 

 tufts of leaves. At this stage in the life of the tree the needles 

 do not appear below their main boughs. We shall see some of these 

 veterans just beyond the road ahead of us and elsewhere other 

 fine specimens occur in the Garden. 



It would be unfair not to mention the two weaknesses of the 

 white pine, for they play a tremendously important role in the 

 reforestation of this species. They are the susceptibility of the 

 tree to the ravages of an insect pest, the white-pine weevil, Piss odes 

 Strobi, and the fungus, Cronartium ribicola, which causes the 

 white-pine blister-rust. It is not within the compass of this book 

 to discuss these destructive agents, but their importance is so 

 great that they must at least be mentioned. 



As an ornamental, white pine is extensively planted in this 

 country. There is little of distinctive beauty, however, in the 

 young trees. 



