THE white pine is found along the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan in
Lake and Cook counties and is also scattered along river bluffs in Jo
Daviess, Carroll, Ogle and LaSalle counties. The only grove of this
beautiful tree in Illinois is in the White Pines Forest State Park near
Oregon, Ogle County, where there are trees over 100 years old that have
attained a height of 90 feet with a diameter of 30 inches. This tree
formerly formed the most valuable forests in the northeastern United
States, stretching from Maine through New York to Minnesota. The
straight stem, regular pyramidal shape and soft gray-green foliage made
it universally appreciated as an ornamental tree and it has been freely
planted throughout the State.
The _leaves_, or needles, are 3 to 5 inches in length, bluish-green on
the upper surface and whitish beneath, and occur in bundles of 5, which
distinguishes it from all other eastern pines. The pollen-bearing
_flowers_ are yellow and clustered in cones, about 1/3 inch long at the
base of the growth of the season. The seed-producing flowers occur on
other twigs and are bright red in color. The cone, or _fruit_, is 4 to 6
inches long, cylindrical with thin usually very gummy scales, containing
small, winged seeds which require two years to mature.
The _wood_ is light, soft, durable, not strong, light brown in color,
often tinged with red, and easily worked. It was formerly much used in
old colonial houses where even the shingles were of white pine. It is
excellent for boxes, pattern making, matches, and many other products.
Its rapid growth and the high quality of the wood make it one of the
best trees for reforestation on light soils in the northern part of the
State. The white pine blister rust was introduced into America about 35
years ago, and has since become widespread and highly destructive of
both old trees and young growth.
The Austrian pine, _Pinus nigra_ Arnold, has been naturalized in Lake
County and has been planted as an ornamental tree throughout the
State. Its leaves in 2's, from 3 to 5 inches long, stiff and dark
green. The cone is heavy, 3 inches long with short prickles.
+SHORTLEAF PINE+ _Pinus echinata_ Mill.
[Illustration: SHORTLEAF PINE