9 
Western yellow pine" is abundant in the dry belt of the 
United States east of the coast mountains/ 
LODGEPOLE OR BLACK PINE (Pinus contorta) 
This tree is the most accommodating and persistent of any 
of our forest trees. It is not at all exacting as to moisture or 
temperature or altitude. Once it has established a foothold it 
will thrive under all manner of conditions. - Unfortunately, it 
has only a small commercial value. It rarely grows above two 
feet in diameter and 60 feet in height, and is usually only about 
one foot in diameter. As a rule it is only fit for mine timber 
and firewood, and is very resinous. 
Black pine occurs in scattered areas all over the Province, 
more particularly upon sandy ground, and is most abundant 
over the middle and northern sections of Central British 
Columbia. It is- gaining a foothold in many places where it 
is not desirable, through its strong seeding qualities, especially 
upon burnt over ground. 
In the open, it will bear fertile seed cones, when only five 
to' six years of age. 
Black pine is a useful tree in the barren sections of the 
country, as it will thrive where hardly anything else will grow. 
In contrast with Red cedar, it has an aversion to limestone. 
Its age limit is about 200 years — a tree one foot in diameter is 
about 80 years of age. 
WESTERN LARCH OR TAMARACK (Larix occidentalis) 
This tree does not occur on the coast. It is fairly abund- 
ant at a moderate elevation oyer the interior of British 
Columbia. 
It is a slim tall tree with small branches, and rarely grows 
any larger than two feet in diameter. It is an ideal tree for 
poles and railway ties, for which it is principally used — also for 
mine timbering. 
It is fo be found in the far north, being not averse to a 
cold climate. It requires a fair amount of moisture and favors 
damp, cool, northern slopes. It thrives on almost any soil 
