THE WOODS OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 15 
this locality it is better. Mr Braithwaite, a well-known New 
Brunswick woodsman, says that the first 10 to 20 feet of the firs 
growing here are generally free from knots; his attention was 
drawn to their soundness when cutting into them for hunting or 
camping purposes. 
The wood is rich in resin, or rather in turpentine, which is 
contained in small vesicles or tumours covering the trunk and 
limbs. This is usually known by the name of Canada balsam, 
and is employed in medicine for pulmonary complaints, and in 
art for the manufacture of varnish. 
This fir is a lasting wood, and seasons readily. It is easily 
worked, and is used in the manufacture of butter firkins 
and other wooden vessels for holding food, as it imparts no 
flavour. It can be used for flooring, interior doors, slats for 
Venetian blinds, etc., etc. ; the Indians prefer it to cedar for lining 
their canoes, as it does not absorb water. 
8. THE AMERICAN LARCH, TAMARACK, OR HACKMATAC. | 
(Larix Americana, Michaux.) 
The American or black larch, called by the French Canadians 
Epinette Rouge, by the descendants of the Dutch, the Tamarack, 
and among the English, commonly by its Indian name of Hack- 
matac, is one of the most valuable trees of the New Brunswick 
forest. Its favourite place of growth and where it usually attains 
its greatest size, is on or near the banks of some sluggish brook, 
growing specially well among that variety of wild grass known as 
“blue joint.” It generally surrounds the barren boggy heaths 
which abound in the middle section of New Brunswick ; those 
trees growing on the bogs being stunted and small, while those on 
the edges of the heath attain a large size, and frequently afford 
good roots for shipbuilding purposes. The roots of those found 
on intervale land are, however, generally sounder and larger, 
though the trees are not so abundant. Many of the finest and 
largest Tamaracks have been found growing out of old beaver 
dams, and these industrious animals may claim the honour of 
having prepared the soil for their growth. 
Where this tree has not a moist soil, its growth is very scanty 
and small, It is capable of ready propagation. By the artificial 
planting of the tree, a period of seventy years would yield timber 
fit for all the ordinary purposes of shipbuilding. 
The wood of the larch, which is very resinous and compact, is 
