PINE (AS. pin, from Lat. pinus, Skt. pirn, pine; connected with (:k. rlrus, pitys, 01r. ith, grain. Skt. pill', sap, pita, pine. pa, to drink, AS. phone, plyme, from Lat. protium, plum, prunus, plum-tree, from Gk. irpoiipov, prounon, proutonon, plum, rpcnitom, prou ?tine, 011111- t re e ; for the phonological changes of r to 1, and of n to m, cf. Eng. pilgrim, from Lat. pere grinus, stranger), Pin us. A genus of trees of the natural order Conifene. Nearly two-thirds of the species are natives of the northern part of the Western Hemisphere. the others occurring in the temperate aml subarctic portions of Europe and in Africa, extending as do some of the American species into the tropic's upon the high mountains. The genus is readily distinguished by narrow, linear,needle-like lea yes, growing usually in clus ters of two, three, or five, surrounded at their bases by a sheath of membranous. scales; and in bearing its seeds in cones which usually mature the second year, some species the third or later years. Pines embrace some of the most or namental and useful trees, their size varying from shrubby specimens, which usually grow at. high elevations or latitudes, to trees of great size.
Pines grow in almost every kind of soil and sit uation, from the bleak mountain side to the plain of almost pure sand. They are more or less gregarious in habit and frequently cover extensive areas to the almost total exclusion of other species. as in the pine barrens of North America. The thickened epidermis and reduced surface of the needles, which are in fact not true leaves, cheek transpiration and fit the trees ad mirably for the in which they often grow.
)111• of the most scientific of classifica tion. that given by Engelmann in the Transac tions of the saint I.onis Academy of Science for is based upon rather technical characters. By others artificial groupings are made. based upon the number of leaves in the cluster and the .osition and eharaet?.r of the cones. The ing scheme. adapted from Veitch, shows the relationships of some of the more common species: strobi, leave. in bundles of five; cones pendu bms: scales thin. blunt: seeds winged—excelsa. la in' .ert iana mom icola strobes.
leaves in fives; cones erect or hori zontal: seeds large. obscurely winged—albicaulis, Balfouriana. Cembra.
Edules, leaves in bundles of one-fifth; cone, snbterminal: scales thickened: seeds large, very obscurely winged—monophylla, parryana, edulis, eembroides.
Tad''', leaves in threes: cones subterminal or lateral; scales much thickened, with sharp prickles: seeds winged—coulteri, palustris, pon derosa. Tmda.
Pinter. leaves in twos; cones lateral, often clustered. mostly persistent; scales thickened, blunt or spiny—contorta, echinata. municata, Pi
naster.
Sylrcsires, leaves in twos; cones subterminal, small mostly falling off: scales slightly thick ened: seeds with elongated wings—Banksiana, halepensis. resinosa. sylvestris.
The white pine (Finns Strobus) is one of the most important timber trees of North America. Its range extend-. from Newfoundland to Minne sota and southward to the mountains of Georgia. It attains a height of 75 to 150 feet, with a diameter of 4 feet. The wood is white or light soft. straight-grained. and not very resin ous. although some resin is obtained from it. It is easily worked and is largely used in building. cabinet work. etc.. being especially in demand for doors, frames, window sash, blinds. shingles, etc. This tree is becoming scarce in the Northern United States and the adjacent parts of Canada. It is one of the most rapid-growing coniferous trees, and as an ornamental has no superior in the northeastern part of the United States. It is propagated from seed, and the young seed lines require sonic shade. It is not consid ered as hardy as the Scotch pine, but is longer lived.
The yellow, long-leaved, or Georgia pine (Pinus a tree of the widest dis tribution a ml greatest economic importance of any in the South and Gulf States. ranks seeond among American pines. It is found in the sandy and gravelly soil from near Norfolk. Virginia. in a belt about 125 miles wide. to Louisiana. following tbe contour of the coast. and is readily distinguished by its long leaves. 9 to 15 inches long. and its cones. which are rather larger than those of other specie,: which aocom patty it. The average height of the mature tree is about Inn feet. with a diameter of from 2 to 3 feet, tapering very gradually. The wood is heavier and stronger than that of any other pine upon the market. The layer of sap-wood is rather thin and the heart-wood is marked by the annual rings. The timber is used in all kinds of building, being especially adapted to ship-carpentry. bridge-building. flooring. etc. Large are annually exported, while the building 01a-rations of the Southern states are almost Wholly dependent upon it. The tree is very resinous, and wherever the sap-wood is laid bare there is an abundant flow of resin, which is largely used in the manufacture of naval stores, turpentine, resin. pitch. tar. etc. The industry ranks second only to the lumber The leaves are utilized for the production by Ilistilla tion of an oil closely resembling the oil of turpen tine. and for the production of pine wool. made by boiling with alkalies, the resulting fibre being used in upholstering.