San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-13

Der industry. 1t is found over Al
area covering more than 4iO,OOu
square miles and is of commercial inn
portance on ut least two-thirds of IFS
natural range. Its natural range *
tends as far north as Western Connec-
tlcut, but near Mont Alto In Frank
lin county, Pennsylvania, is believed
to be the most northern heavy stanI
of Shortleaf Pine in America. In this
stand are many stately trees win
trunks , IL feet in diameter breast
high, and clear of branches for 20
feet from the ground. These knights
Of the forest are covered with u dis
tinctive armored bark, fully as typi-
cal as any grown in the South.
The Shortleaf Pine is commonest
In the South, where it makes it best
growth at elevation of 400 to 1900
feet. 1t does. however, extend FROM
sea level to an altitude of 5000 feet
in the Southern Appalachian noun.
tains. The Shortleaf Pine has many
common names. Some of them are mp.
propriate while others are misleading
and often embarrassing to one at
tempting to identify it. None of its
fifteen common names will ever re,
place the names "Shortleaf Pine
for its leaves are truly short in COM
parison with the Longleaf Pine and
the other pines with which 1t is as
ISOLATED. Its distinctive leaves arc
slender, from . to 4 inches long and
usually occur in twos, but occasion-
ally three appear in cluster AMI
sometimes four may be together in a
cluster. "a
It is Easily Identified.
The cones of the ShOrtleaf Pine arc
iather distinctive. They are brown
In color, attached to the branches by
very short stalk, from IL to ? IL
inches long and nearly as wide rs
long when open. Each cone scale has
an enlarged apex which Is armed with
weak prickle. The cones open in
early autumn to discharge the smell
triangular seeds, which are produced
in large numbers and scattered widely
about the trees.
The Shortleaf Pine has a long tap
root. This enables the tree to obtain
water from considerable depth be-
low the surface. Even In cases of
heavy drought the trees do not suffer
very> much.
The Shortleaf Pine is a companion
able tree. One may find small areas
occupied by it exclusively. but in the
major part of its range it is associated
either with hardwoods or with oth'r
evergreen trees. Pitch Pine snd
Scrub Pine are common companions,
and Loblolly Pine is frequently as
ISOLATED with it upon heavier and
rather moist soil As one approaches
the coastal plains and other low
lying regions of the South, the Long
m Din. 30, frannn,,flx, oscnc, faI /,
it, and at higher elevations. White
by its side. Many kinds of harl
ash and cherry are also frequently as
ISOLATED with it.
The Loblolly Pine has % comm IN
names. Some of them are quite an-
propriate, while others are mislead-
ing and meaningless. "Old Field
Pine" is an appropriate name. for this
tree is quite common i'm old. abaa-
doned fields. Few. if any. trees show
such persistency in encrUaching upon
and occupying abandoned fields anil
open places. This tree did a heroic
piece of work after the Civil Wa.
iii restoring forest growth upon
thousands OF acres of abandoned farm
land in the South.
Commercially, it is classed with the
other Southern Pines and sold as Vel
low Pine. Southern Pine. North Caro-
linn Pine. or Georgia Pine. Its scieu-
tific name is Pinus taeda. The sec
ond part of its scientific name is IL
appropriate. for the word taeda meaus
torch" and authentic records tell us
that the resinous heartwoods and
knots of this tree were not used for
torches. as was done with some Of
the other Eastern pines.
The natural range of Loblolly Pine
lies In belt about 200 miles wide
along the Atlantic coast from Deia-
ware TO Florida. and from there along
the Gulf of Mexico TO Central Missis-
sippi. II extends over the entire
State Of Alabama. all of Eastern Mis-
sissippi. and q part Of Central and
Western Tennessee. There are also
large areas of il in Texas, Louisiana.
Arkansas and Oklahoma. Over vast
areas west of the Mississippi. this
tree forms extensive pure stands. and
there the trees attain a large size and
develop a good form.