Creative Woodworks & crafts 2003-08, страница 35

m pastern While Fine, Pinus strobes, |also known as Northern White Pine, !ffi |Pin Blanc, Weymouth Pine, and Soil L«I p'ine grows in upper elevations from SrapNorth Central and Eastern Canada, ■BESeross all of New England, south to jjpONorthcro Georgia and west to the j8B|lGrcat Lakes slates. It is also repotted jjHp)hal there are sporadic growths in the BE^tipper elevations of Mexico and EH&Guatcmala.

The wood of this tree is a delight to

work. It is light in color and weight;

the heai'twood slightly darker than

the sapwood and the growth rings '

are at times indistinct. It works easi- J ggg,

ly with hand or machine tools and '

takes any finish; however, it may ; . ; " '

have a blotchy appearance when

stained. This can be prevented with g^V-

the use of conditioners or gel stains. ; J

The wood air-dries very well, but 'fS^i"" ••

this will not "set" the pitch. The • |

wood must be heated to 170° for 12 x'

to 24 hours in order to set it; other- i

wise, it will bleed out and at the Wm^W^wiwwww-very least be unsightly, and at the worst make a mess on a carpet or other finished surface. You can see a pitch pocket near the left edge of the photograph. In this case it has been set by kiln drying.

This is the only pine with a sheath f' , _r ^{WRKigHK&HH of 5 needle.. They are 3" lo 5" Ion:/, ■ ; \ '^WW

soft, and bluish-green in color, and arc shed every two years. Walking in a stand of pines offers a degree of

pleasure that cannot be experienced fej^^^^gp^^P^^^oEaP in any other type of forest or wood iWM^^B^WM'MMM^^^^. lot. The needles and pitch on the bark emit a fragrance that instantly

cases the soul, and the whisper of HHHK^^^^KU the wind in the branches is like the mm

sound a mother makes in a troubled • ~ ••■••••••.•• ••.• .•••••..•.•..•........ •.•. .• •.-.. .••.••■•

baby's car. In fact, I read a book a number of years ago which professed that by meditating under an Eastern White Pine, your spirit would gain strength and confidence greater than in any other location-something about pyramids and shapes and the like. I've never learned lo meditate, but I enjoy walking among the white pines just the same.

_;:The bark is also rather distinctive in filial there are two types. The young :trees have a smooth, greenish bark that is not. resistant to lire damage.

■Ilhc bark of the older trees is fur-

£

Jrowcd, dark brown and quite resis-jitanl to fire damage. When this continent was settled, there were extensive pure stands of gigantic trees, in gmany cases towering more than 200

^stripped her forests of large trees in border to build a world-class navy of

of the old growth trees had fallen to the ax and saw by the late 1800's, the present growth is still impressive, often attaining heights up to 150 I'cct and diameters over 4 feet.

The concs arc distinctive to the species, running from 4" to 8" long and slender, and the seeds provide an important food source for squirrels and birds. Eastern White Pine has many uses, including log cabins, millwork, sashes and jambs, panel-

Gooseberries and currents host the lij^flKJHflRI

attack any white pine within 1/4

mile and will eventually lcill the ^P^Mliii^^^' * I

tree, so you berry lovers have to be

careful. The species is also subject v

to attack by the white pine weevil, 'V g %

which deforms the top of the tree, %,

altering its growth and lowering its \

quality, •

Creative Woodworks & Crafts August 2003 • 35