The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-10-08
FOREST TREES Of MAINE.

Commissioner Rings Manual of Forestry.
'.The Forest Trees of Maine" apocket
manual issued by the State forestry de-
partment, is just from the press. It a
book for which there will be large de-
mand, as it contains much information
relative to the trees found within the
borders of the State.
In his introduction to the book Forest
Commissioner E. E. Ring, says: "For a
long time there has been demand for
book giving simple, yet comprehensive
description of the trees of Maine, hence
this pocket manual has been prepared
and it is hoped will to some degree serve
the purpose for which it is intended.
''Simple as the work may appear to be
considerable time and thought have been
put into it's preparation. The descrlp-
tons given are the common names and by
them the characteristics of the tree can
readily be told and the various species
easily distinguished one from another
cit is the intention of the forest COM
missioner that this book shall be placed
in the hands of the students of the public
schools.
1t is earnestly hoped that teachers will
endeavor to awaken an interest on the
part Of the pupils in the study OF the
different trees which make the great
wealth of our State.
eff there can be created in the people
on innate love Of nature, the fundament-
ais of practical forestry will solve them
selves as naturally as water flows down
hill. Meanwhile we have pleasant
task in bringing these conditions about.
The more one knows about trees, the
more he wants to know; and the natural
outcome will be better economic and
aesthetic conditions. "
The manual is fully illustrated by over
50 cuts showing actual photographs OF
leaves. stems, fruit and nuts borne by
the several trees, which aid much in
distinguishing one kind from another.
Many of the illustrations show leaves
and fruit as the trees appear in summer
and the bare twigs as they are in winter.
The majority of the cuts are from one
third to one-half the actual size.
While only few of the trees in the
forests are familiar to the majority OF
people there are in reality At distinct
kinds in this State, all of which are de-
scribed in this manual.
In treating the many varieties each
particular family of treeis divided INTO
sections and the important distinctions
named and described separately. vi
the more common trees it is found there
are four species of pine, the white, red
pitch and jack or gray pine; three otash
black, white and red; four varieties OF
maple; sugar, striped, silver and red; SIX
of oaks, red, scarlet, yellow, white, burr
and swamp white oak; four of birches,
black, yellow, gray and white; three of
poplars, aspen, large aspen and balsam
poplar; three of hickories, butternut,
shagbark and pignut; two OF cedar,
white and red; three of spruces, black,
red and white.
Of the spruces which are so largely
used in the pulp and paper industry OF
the State the red spruce is the most COM
mon and is found in all counties where
the soil conditions are suitable for its
growth and is the most abundant OF the
conifers. 1t grows on the mountain
slopes. 1t is one of the most valuable
trees in the forests.
Of the pines, the white pine is the
most common and at one time was very
abundant throughout the State, and it
was for this reason that the appellatlon
Pine Tree State was given to Maine.
1t grows rapidly both in height and diam
eter, making an average height growth
of one foot each year.
The pitch pine grow on sandy plains
and on dry gravelly soil of the uplands 1T
is quite common in the southwestern part
of the State and on the sand plains near
Brunswick it is the only species found on
areas of considerable extent. The red
or Norway pine, though common
is found only locally throughout the
State, growing on dry, rocky ridges, or
light sandy soil, usuallyin groves scatter
ed throughout the forests of other species
The naples, birches and other hard
woods are found throughout the State
but there are large tracts OF them IN
northern Maine, Oxford and Franklin
counties and furnish material for many
hardwood and novelty mills.
Had dyspepsia or Indigestion for years.
No appetite, and what did eat distressed me
terribly. Burdock Blood Bitters cured me-
J. H. Walker, Sunbury, Ohio.