80 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



in diameter at the ground, that is, somewhat less than half 

 an inch a year. The largest of these measured five feet and 

 three inches, the smallest, two feet and nine inches in circum- 

 ference. 



The timber of the hemlock is wanting in strength, in conse- 

 quence of having the circles of growth separated at intervals, 

 or, to use the language of the dealers in timber, being "shaky." 

 This defect Michaux * supposes to be produced by the winds, 

 acting with great force upon a broad compact summit rising 

 above the heads of the surrounding trees. Its firmness is great, 

 and it is very durable when not exposed to the atmosphere, but 

 as it has little resin, it ill bears the alternations of moisture and 

 dryness. It is therefore employed, together with spruce, in 

 every part of New England, as a substitute for white pine, 

 where the latter has grown scarce, for the frames of all kinds 

 of buildings which are to be covered, for the board covering of 

 wooden houses which are to be clap-boarded, and particularly, 

 on account of its hardness, for the threshing floors of barns. It 

 is preferred to other woods for the material of lathes, and for 

 any purpose where stiffness is wanted without the property of 

 yielding, or elasticity. It is much used in the large Atlantic 

 cities, as a substitute for stone in the pavement of streets, for 

 which purpose it is sawn into hexagonal blocks of eight inches 

 in thickness, and eight, ten, or eighteen inches in breadth. 



For fuel, it has not great value, as it burns with a great 

 crackling and snapping. It is, however, used in close stoves. 

 Many cords of the bark are annually consumed as fuel. But the 

 most important use to which this bark is applied, and for which 

 it is imported from Maine is, as a substitute for oak bark in the 

 preparation of leather. It contains a great quantity of tannin, 

 combined with a coloring matter which gives a red color to the 

 leather, apt to be communicated to articles kept long in contact 

 with it. On which account, this bark is not commonly used for 

 the best kinds of leather, by itself, but mixed with oak bark ; 

 and the compound is said to be superior to either alone. 



* Sylva, III, 188. 



