519. This tree, which is the Pinus rigida of botanists, is a native of Canada, and is common throughout the United States of North America; but is most abundant along the Atlantic coast. It is remarkable for the abundance and fragrance of its resin. The wood is heavy, and when of good quality, close-grained, elastic, and durable; but when old or very dry it becomes brittle. The annual rings are far asunder, and the outer rings often contain a large quantity of sap. The colour is redder than the Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris). The wood feels sticky, and is difficult to plane.

The long-leaved Florida pine yields the best quality of wood; but the timber that is sent from the northern parts of Virginia is not so good, in consequence, it is supposed, of the trees being tapped for pitch, which affects the durability of the wood. The pitch pine is employed in furnishing planks or decks of ships both in England and America. Sometimes planks are obtained 60 feet long without a knot.

Stripped of its sap-wood it makes excellent pumps and troughs for mills, and may be used in situations where it is exposed to alternate damp and dryness; but it will not last underground so long as white pine. According to Mr. Fincham, pitch pine has lost its character of late years as a durable timber for ship-building purposes, which has caused its use to be very much diminished.