123^1 K. t'.. IJCWIS 



value and can usually be obtained in larger dimensions than that of the 

 other spruces, as the trees attain great size in this region. 



As their distribution is restricted and as they are found growing with 

 trees of greater commercial value, their lumber does not assume great 

 national importance at the present time. 



There are nine distinct pine species native to Canada, and of these, six 

 are of great commercial importance. The eastern white pine {Pinus Stro- 

 btis) is the most valuable coniferous wood in Canada. It has superior qua- 

 lities for the wood worker and enjoys a world wide reputation. Up to a 

 few years ago it was the most important wood in Canada in point of quantity 

 of lumber sawn and exported in the form of square timber (Quebec pine). 

 Owing to increased scarcity of good material the wood has fallen off in pro- 

 duction till its place has been taken at the head of the list by the spruces, 

 of which there is a greater supply of available material. The wood of 

 white pine is soft, easy to work, fairl}' durable and strong in comparison to 

 its weight. Its most valuable quality in addition to these is its facult}- for 

 holding its shape with a minimum of shrinking or swelling once it has been 

 properly seasoned. In this latter respect there are a few woods of commerce 

 that can surpass it. The western white pine {Pimis moniicola) is similar 

 in most respects to the eastern species. It is a smaller tree, of comparatively 

 rare occurrence and is of minor commercial importance. In distribution 

 it is confined to the province of- British Columbia while the eastern white 

 pine is found from eastern Manitoba to the Atlantic seaboard. The remain- 

 ing pine species are sometimes classed as "hard pines", their wood being 

 harder and more resinous than that of the " soft " or white pines. The red or 

 Norway pine of eastern Canada and the western j^ellow or " Bull " pine of 

 the interior of British Columbia {Finns resinosa and ponderosa) are valuable 

 sources of light structural timber and are also sawn into lumber. The two 

 jack pines {Pinus Banksiana of the east and north and P inns Murrayana of 

 the Rock}' Mountains and British Columbia) are not considered as valuable 

 timber producing trees although they are both used locall}' for rough con- 

 struction. Jack pine railway ties are used to an enormous extent on the newly 

 constructed transcontinental railway lines as the wood is handy to the right- 

 of-wa}^ and can be obtained in sufficient quantit}^ with a minimum of haulage. 

 In 1914 over forty per cent of the ties used in Canada were of this wood. Its 

 cheapness and abundance are its most important characteristics in this 

 respect. In the manufacture of " Kraft " pulp by the sulphate process it 

 has been found that jack pine is a satisfactory raw material and the use of 

 the wood for this purpose has increased in the last few years ver}^ greatly. 

 There are three other species of the genus Pinus that reach tree size in 

 Canada^ but these are only of local importance for firewood. 



The Douglas fir {Pseiidotsuga nmcronata) often erroneously called "Ore- 

 gon Pine ", of British Columbia and the Pacific Coast is the only representa- 

 tive of its genus in Canada. It yields more lumber annually than any 

 other single species in America. The cut in Canada represents over 15 

 per cent of the total lumber production. The tree in Canada is not found 

 east of the Rocky Moimtains, the greater part of the lumber being obtained 



