The longleaf pine (_Pinus palustris_) is distinctly the most important of its group. The wood is ideal for heavy constructions. Beams, docks, trestles, and frames of cars are formed of it. The trees afford the greater bulk of turpentine, tar, and resin, or "naval stores," produced in this country.[74] Cuban, shortleaf, and loblolly pine woods (_P. heterophylla_, _P. echinata_, and _P. tæda_) are nearly similar. Longleaf and Cuban pines are seldom separated, while shortleaf and loblolly pines are also mixed. Longleaf pine usually affords finer structure and more heartwood than Cuban pine. Strength and weight averages of both woods are in excess of those of shortleaf and loblolly pines. No method of invariably telling these four woods apart has as yet been determined. (Roth.) Any or all of them are practically liable to be delivered in response to a demand for Southern pine. Johnson considers shortleaf pine as good as longleaf pine of equal weight, and suggests environment as a means of identification. Palustris, signifying "swampy," is misleading, since long leaf pine prefers dry, sandy soil and tracts known as "pine barrens." _Mitis_ refers to the soft, delicate foliage of shortleaf pine. _Tæda_ signifies "torch." The trees may be told by differences in their leaves and cones. [p133] Longleaf (_P. palustris_) Leaves Number in Cluster 3 Length, in. 10 to 15 Cones Diameter (open), in. 4 to 5 Length, in. 6 to 10 Cuban (_P. heterophylla_) Leaves Number in Cluster 2 or 3 Length, in. 8 to 12 Cones Diameter (open), in. 3 to 5 Length, in. 4 to 7 Shortleaf (_P. echinata_) Leaves Number in Cluster 2 or 3 Length, in. 2 to 5 Cones Diameter (open), in. 1 to 2 Length, in. 2 Loblolly (_P. tæda_) Leaves Number in Cluster 3 Length, in. 5 to 10 Cones Diameter (open), in. 2 to 3 Length, in. 3 to 4 A confusion exists in the naming of the pines. American white pine is known as yellow or Weymouth pine in Europe, and all American hard pines are there often known as pitch pines. The European, Dantzic, or Northern pine has also many names, principally depending on port of shipment. Georgia, Southern, Yellow, Hard, and even Pitch pine, are interchangeable names in this country. The species palustris has thirty local names. [p134] FOOTNOTE [Footnote 74: Manufacture of tar, pitch, etc. (See Report Chief U. S. Div. Forestry, 1892, p. 356; also U. S. Forestry Bulletin No. 13.)] WHITE PINE. _Pinus strobus Linn._ Nomenclature. (Sudworth.) White Pine (local and common name). Weymouth Pine (Mass., S. C.). Soft Pine (Pa.). Northern Pine (N. C.). Spruce Pine (Tenn.). Pumpkin Pine. Locality.