7G4 THE MAPLES OF CANADA. [April 



tlieinselves the most suitable place to commence at clearing the 

 river. If handled ^ith judgment, a few liours will sometimes start 

 tlie whole, whereas, on the other hand, days may elapse before it is 

 all away. The plan is to use what is termed a jam-dog, to which 

 is attached a strong rope. Tlie man on the jam catches the dog in 

 the stick he wishes moved, and all hands on shore pull on the rope, 

 and draw the stick into the stream. When the key stick of the 

 jam starts, then it becomes dangerous. The men on the jam start 

 for the boat before the timber forming the jam gets well rolling, 

 and make for shore, and it is necessary then that they have cool 

 presence of mind and good use of their legs, as one false step till 

 they reach the boat would be almost certain death. The jam off, 

 the driving in boats continues until the next rapid is reached, and a 

 repetition of the same plan is followed. In driving timber through 

 a lake where a good current exists in the middle of tlie stream, the 

 timber that may have worked or been blown into tlie numerous 

 bays with which they generally abound is towed out to the current 

 by the boats' crews and allowed to drift down ; but where the 

 current is too sluggish, kedging is adopted to cross the lake and 

 reach the swift water. Where slides for single pieces of timber 

 exist, the timber is retained at the head of the slide by a boom 

 placed for that purpose, so that, when all the timber has arrived in 

 it, they open the gap, and commence feeding tlirougli the slide, 

 piece by piece, as fast as the nature of the slide will admit of. 



THE MAPLES OF CANADA. 



THE maple {Acer), whose leaf is the emblem of Canada, as the 

 rose is of England, contains several species, but a similarity 

 pervades all, so that the description applies to them collectively. It 

 is a lofty tree, with branches nearly at right angles, bent and con- 

 torted in every direction. It grows on tlie best of land, and is 

 ahvays indicative of a rich soil. Its foliage is particularly luxuriant, 

 and when touched by the frosts of autunni is remarkable for its 

 brilliancy of colouring. The wood of the maple is very close-grained 

 and hard, highly ornamental and esteemed for the beauty of its 

 fibre ; when polished it possesses a silky lustre. Strong and heavy, 

 it lacks durability, and from its early decay when exposed to 

 moisture it is not sought after in civil or naval architecture. It is 

 used for heavy furniture, cabinet-work, nnd for railway carriages 

 where strength is required. A peculiar arrangement of fibre in 

 some specimens, in concentric circles, resembling the eye of a bird. 



