The Fir. 



than one inch and a quarter long-, and small in its girt in 

 proportion. The timber makes good masts for ships; 

 MicHAux states, that the main-mast of the St. Lawrence, 

 a ship of fifty guns, built by the French at Quebec, was of 

 this Pine. While young, the Red Pine has a beautiful 

 aspect, and its vegetation is always vigorous. Some have 

 spoken disparagingly of its timber; but Michaux says, that 

 it has a fine compact grain, and that in Canada and Nova 

 Scotia it is highly esteemed for its strength and durability. 

 The third, namely, the White Pine, is one of the largest 

 and finest of trees. The cone is something of the shape 

 of the long spruce cone, and is not at all compact, but 

 loose and rough. Michaux says, that he measured two 

 trunks that had been felled for canoes, one of which was 

 154 feet long, and fifty-four inches in diameter. He says, 

 that he has found the largest trees of it in the best land, but 

 that it will thrive in any land that he knows any thing of. 

 He does not speak so highly of the wood. He has observed, 

 that it is the foremost in taking possession of barren desert 

 lands, and the most hardy in resisting the impetuous gales 

 of the ocean. The wood is so clear fi'om knots, that it is 

 very much in use where great strength and hardness is not 

 required. Immense quantities of this timber are sent, in one 

 shape or other, to almost all parts of the world. The fourth, 

 namely, the American Pitch Pine. The cone of this pine 

 is about an inch and a quarter long. The tree attains the 

 height of seventy or eighty feet, and a diameter of from 

 twenty to thirty inches. Michaux does not speak highly 

 of the wood, but says, that from this tree abundance of pitch 

 is procured. 



264. It would be useless to state particulars relative to 

 any of the remainder of the long list of Pines ; and, as 

 I have before given directions for collecting the seed, and 



