TIIIC I'ORliST TKJ'KS OF CANADA '^23J 



in the Coast Region of British Columbia. This is Canada's largest tree 

 and from it larger timbers can be obtained than from any other tree in 

 America, with the single exception perhaps of the California Redwood {Se- 

 quoia). Up to the present time its use has been largely confined to structural 

 purposes but its attractive grain and figure are winning for it popula- 

 rity as a wood for more decorative purposes such as interior finish and ca- 

 binet work. The wood comes fourth in importance in Canada as a material 

 for railway ties and is used extensively for mining timbers. It is noted 

 chiefly for its strength and durability and the dimensions in which it can 

 be obtained. 



There are three hemlock species in Canada's forests, two of which are 

 valuable timber trees. The eastern hemlock {Tsuga catuidensis) is abund- 

 ant throughout its range in the eastern provinces, but is not found west 

 of the province of Ontario. 



The wood is used chiefly for rough, cheap construction especially house 

 framing. It is fairly strong but has many objectionable features from the 

 woodworker's standpoint, being rough, harsh, splintery, and difficult to 

 work. It is not durable in contact with moisture but supplies the demand 

 for a cheap, strong material for many purposes. The wood is also used for 

 railway ties, poles, mining timber, pulpwood and firewood. Its bark is 

 a valuable source of tannin. The western hemlock has few of the objec- 

 tionable technical features of its eastern relative. This tree [Tstiga hete- 

 rophylla) is found in Canada only in the province of British Columbia, and 

 is becoming more valuable each year as the prejudices due to its name are 

 overcome. The two trees in Canada in 1914 yielded over eight per cent 

 of the total lumber production of the country. 



There is only one balsam fir in eastern Canada {Abies halsamea). The 

 tree is found from I^abrador to Alaska covering practically the same geo- 

 graphical distribution as the white and black spruces. Its wood is sawn 

 into lumber to take the place of more valuable woods for rough construc- 

 tion as it has few technical qualities which would recommend it for any other 

 use as lumber. The purpose for which the wood of this tree is best suited 

 is in the manufacture of wood pulp for paper making. The tree, in nature, 

 occurs mixed with spruce and it is cut and marketed with that wood. Bal- 

 sam fir has the requisite length and toughness of fibre for pulp making and 

 in spite of the fact that it gives a slighth^ lower yield of pulp per cord and 

 contains a higher percentage of resin than spruce its use is increasing. In 

 1 9 14 one fourth of the pulpwood cut was of this species. 



There are three western balsam fir species whose wood is very similar 

 to that of Abies halsamea. The most important of these at present is pro- 

 bably the Alpine fir {A hies lasiocarpa) VVherc the.se western species are uti- 

 lized their wood is put to similar uses to those of the eastern species. They 

 are confined in their distribution to the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific 

 Slopes. 



There are only two species of the genus Thuya, connnonly called 

 " Cedar" in Canada. They are both of great conunercial importance, each 

 in its own region, as their ranges do not overlap. The wood of the cedars 



