SLASH PINE Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Slash pine is not a native of Texas, its natural range in the United States being along the coast from South Carolina to eastern Louisiana. The initial planting of slash pine in East Texas was made on the E. O. Siecke State Forest near Kirbyville in 1926. It has been widely planted in East Texas, and has been so successful in its growth and adaptability to the region that it is now accepted as a forest tree of the State. It is much favored for reforestation by planting because of its exceedingly rapid height growth, good survival, and comparative freedom from tip-moth damage. [Illustration: SLASH PINE (One-half natural size)] In its native habitat a mature tree ranges to 100 feet high, with a roundtopped head and a trunk 1 to 3 feet in diameter. The BARK ranges in thickness from ¾ to 1 inch, separating freely on the surface into large thin scales. The needle-like LEAVES occur in clusters of 2 and 3, are from 8 to 12 inches long, and lustrous. The “FLOWERS” appear in late winter, the male dark purple, the female pink, the “FRUIT”, a cone usually 4 to 6 inches long, is brown and glossy, the thin scales armed with fine prickles. Slash pine WOOD is exceedingly hard, very strong, durable, coarse grained, rich, dark orange color, with thick, nearly white sapwood. In this respect it is similar to longleaf, being sold as such, and used for the same purpose. Naval stores, lumber, pulpwood and other products can be produced from this tree. DOUGLAS-FIR Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Belssn.) Franco This valuable timber tree of the western United States reaches its extreme southeastern limit in the mountains of West Texas. It is a small tree locally but in the Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir reaches a height of 250 feet and a diameter of 10 to 12 feet. The needle-like LEAVES are linear, more or less flattened, about an inch in length, bluish green, and arranged closely in spirals around the stem. They remain on the twigs for many years. The buds are a rich reddish-brown and pointed. [Illustration: DOUGLAS-FIR (Fruit and leaves, one-half natural size)] The “FRUIT”, a cone, unlike that of true firs, hangs downward and is easily identified by the protruding bracts, or “straws.” The mature cones are 2 to 4 inches long, and brownish-red. The WOOD is moderately light, reddish tinted and surrounded by nearly white sapwood. It varies widely in respect to density, quality and width of sapwood. Much high grade plywood is made from this species. Young Douglas-firs are sold as Christmas trees. BALDCYPRESS Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.