The: Evergr^e:n Trees oe Coeorado. 19 
and western Texas to the Pacific Ocean and from southern British Columbia 
to southern California and Mexico this pine is replaced by the species pinus 
ponderosa, of which it is often consiidered as the variety soopulorum. 
In Colorado the bull or rock pine forms rather open woods or forests 
on the slopes of valleys. Here it grows to a height of '24-30 m. (80-100 ft.) 
high and 1 m. (40 in.) in diameter. On the exposed rocky ridges and slopes 
it forms a spreading tree of stocky growth. The dark green needles are in 
bundles of two to three and vary in length from three to six inches. The 
cones are two to three Inches long and the scales are tipped with stout re¬ 
curved prickles, which on old cones are often missing. On large limbs and 
trunks the bark is blackish or cinnamon colored and on old trunks becomes 
thick and deeply furrowed. The wood is heavy and strong, but differs much 
in quality and is apt to be quite knotty. Its main uses are for lumber, rail¬ 
way ties and mine timbers. 
This pine, on account of lits deep growing root system, is able to resist 
drought better than almost any other of our evergreens. Thus it is well 
adapted to planting on the semi-arid plains and in dry, exposed situations. 
Under cultivation It is capable of rapid growth in diiameter. A tree on the 
Agricultural College campus has averaged nearly one inch increase in diam¬ 
eter for each two years, the diameter when cut being seven inches at breast 
height, and with fifteen annual rings of growth. This rate of growth sug¬ 
gests this as a suitable pine for the tree plantation. When planted for lum¬ 
ber the trees may be planted twelve feet apart each way and the lower limbs 
be pruned off to form clean trunks as the trees grow in height. 
This pine is quite easily grown from seeds, which are of good 
size, and which germinate readily. 
(See directions for growing evergreens from seed). 
The seedlings do not require shading when young as in the 
case of most evergreens. They should be transplanted when one 
or two years old to increase the number of fibrous roots. When 
four years old they may be set in permanent quarters if growth 
has been good. 
LODGE POLE PINE, BLACK PINE. 
{Pinus Murray ana, Oreg. Com.) 
(Plate V. a. c.) 
The lodge pole pine, so named from the use which the Indians once 
made of It in building their lodges. Is a common evergreen In the hills and 
mountaiins of the northwestern states. It usually prefers northern slopes, 
which It covers with a dense growth. The trees are tall and straight and 
carry most of the foliage toward the top, especially when growing in forests. 
At a distance masses of this tree are noticeable on account of the yellow 
green of the foliage. It usually reaches higher altitudes than the rock pine. 
The needles are in bundles of two and are about two inches In length. The 
cones nearly equal the leaves In length and are composed of thick, hard 
scales, each of which is tipped with a slender prickle. The cones often re¬ 
main closed and attached to the limbs sometimes for many years so that 
they occasionally become entirely overgrown by the enlarging stem. 
A strong heat will cause the cones to open and allow the seeds to fall 
out. As the seeds may retain their vitality in the closed cones, sometimes 
for twenty years, a quick forest fire often brings about a reseeding of the 
burned district where this tree grew, by causing these old, “tight" cones to 
open. 
The wood of the lodge pole pine is soft, light, and lacks durability. It 
Is used to some extent for lumber, railway ties, mine timbers and fuel. The 
wood, when properly seasoned and treated with preservatives, is greatly im¬ 
proved in durability. 
