PIN US TALDA. 
V 
o 
6 
cultivation; and amid forefts of Oak, tradls of ioo or 200 acres are not unfrequently feen covered with 
thriving young Pines. In the more fouthern States, it is the moft common fpecies after the Longdeaved 
Pine; but in the “ Pine Barrens,” according to Michaux, it grows only in the branch fwamps, or long 
narrow marfhes that interfecl these fterile lands; and near the creeks and rivers, where the foil is of middling 
fertility and fufceptible of improvement, fuch as the vicinity of Charlefton, South Carolina, which is 
covered to the diftance of five or fix miles with Loblolly Pines. 
According to Purfh, all the woods in the Southern States feem to be feeded with it; for when any 
piece of clear land is neglecfted for any length of time, it is fpeedily covered with this fpecies; and hence 
its name, among the inhabitants, of Old Field Pine. It is difficult, and in fome cafes almoft impracticable, 
he adds, to recover the lands which have been overrun with young Pines of this fpecies, as the ground 
appears to have loft all fertile properties for any other kind of vegetation; or perhaps it may be that the foil 
is naturally fo fterile that nothing but plants fuited for fuch conditions will grow in it. 
Hijlovy. —It is one hundred years fince this fpecies was defcribed by Linnaeus; and there is no reafon 
to doubt that it was recognifed and defcribed by botanifts as long as feventy years before that date. It 
was not, however, brought to this country until 1713, when Bifliop Compton introduced it. It is doubt- 
lefs to that period, or not long after, that the fine fpecimens at Syon Houfe and Pains Hill are to be 
referred. One of the latter, Loudon fays, is doubtlefs the handfomeft tree of the fpecies in Europe. 
Others at Kew and Whitton belong to a fomewhat later period. 
Properties and Ufes. —This fpecies is applied only to fecondary ufes. It decays rapidly when expofed 
to the air, and is regarded as one of the leaf!; valuable of the Pines. Where other timber is not procurable, 
it is, however, extensively ufed. Not many years ago, and probably ftill, the majority of the houfes in the 
north of Virginia (Michaux fays three-fourths) were built of the Loblolly Pine, and it is even ufed, in the 
abfence of the Yellow Pine, for the ground floors; but the boards, although only four inches wide and 
ftrongly nailed, fhrink and become uneven. This inconvenience is attributable to its fpongy confidence, 
and is not experienced in the Long-leaved Pine {P. palujlris'), whofe concentric circles are twelve times as 
numerous in the fame fpace. 
In the ports of the Southern States this fpecies is ufed, like the Pitch Pine in thofe of the North, for 
the pumps of fhips. At Charlefton the wharfs are built with logs of the Loblolly Pine, confolidated with 
earth. Bakers confume it in their ovens, and it is fold a third cheaper than the more refinous wood of the 
Long-leaved Pine. 
Michaux mentions that the tailed ftocks, which he obferved, in proportion to their diameter, were fome 
near Richmond, growing on a light arid foil. From feveral of them cylinders might have been formed 12 
or 15 inches in diameter, and 50 feet in length, perfectly regular and free from knots. 
The wood has a ftill greater proportion of fap than that of the Pond and Pitch Pines, Pimis ferotina and 
P. risdda. The fame author found 30 inches of alburnum, in trunks three feet in diameter, and in thofe 
a foot in diameter, and 30 or 35 feet in height, not more than an inch of heart. The concentric circles are 
widely diftant, which is quite in accordance with the rapidity of its growth. In the more fouthern States, in 
Virginia, where it vegetates more flowly, its texture is clofer, and the proportion of fap-wood lefs confider- 
able. Michaux particularly obferved this at the faw-mills of Petersburg. 
As might be expected, from this large proportion of fap-wood, it affords turpentine in abundance, but 
in a lefs fluid ftate than that of the Pinus palujiris ; that tree containing more alburnum, from which the 
turpentine diftils. Perhaps by making deeper incifions it would yield a greater product. 
Though little efteemed in America, Michaux fuggefts that it would be an important addition to the 
fouth of Europe, where a tree of fine appearance and rapid vegetation is an invaluable treafure. It might 
be employed in joinery for objedts concealed from fight, for packing-cafes, &c. We have little doubt it 
would grow as rapidly as the Maritime Pine on the plains of Bordeaux. 
[ 18 ] 
Cultivation. 
1 
