The sugar pine was highly sought by lumbermen, and especially for the manufacture of wooden boxes. The pine is noted for its straight grain and another feature was manufacture into lumber has no odor. The latter was desired by fruit and vegetable growers.

The sugar pine was so named for its surgary pitch. Noted naturalist, John Muir wrote: “The sugar, from which the common name is derived, is to my taste the best of sweets, better than maple sugar. It exudes from the heartwood, where wounds have been made, either by forest fires or the ax, in the shape. of irregular, crisp, candy-like kernels, which are crowded together in masses of considerable size, like cluster of resin beads . . . Indians are fond of it, but on account of its laxative properties only small quantities may be eaten.”

Tim