278 THE FORESTS OF CANADA. 



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(Larix A.}. A deciduous tree, almost identical with 

 the English larch. It grows in clumps in low-lying 

 ground, generally in the vicinity of lakes swamps and 

 beaver meadows. It indicates inferior land. A very 

 hard, durable, resinous, and valuable timber; in great 

 demand for ship timbers, knees, and so on. It also 

 makes admirable railway sleepers. When dry it is 

 capital firewood. Pendent from the boughs of this tree 

 and of the black spruce hangs in festoons the moss on 

 which the cariboo feed in winter. It comes next to cedar 

 for fencing purposes, and the young trees run up straight 

 and free from knots, and make the toughest of poles for 

 canoeing and other purposes. 



The fir (Abies balsamea), called " var " by the settler, is 

 a pretty tree, but the wood is not much valued. In fact, 

 Canada is so rich in valuable woods, and there are so 

 many kinds to choose from, that Canadians can afford to 

 be particular and only use the best ; however, it is used 

 for making tub?, butter dishes, milkpails, and so on ; it is 

 a soft, easily-worked wood, and tasteless. The fir, as we 

 have seen before, grows everywhere, sometimes in clumps 

 by itself, more often mixed with spruce and hardwood. 

 It grows very rapidly, but does not attain a great age. 

 Fir trees left in isolated positions by themselves generally 

 blow down or decay. The smell of this tree is delicious ; 

 it scents the forest. The tender boughs form the most 

 elastic, fragrant, and sleep-provoking of couches for the 

 camper-out ; and the balsam, which is found in large 

 bubbles under the bark, is the best and quickest cure that 

 I know of for cuts, scratches, and bruises, and it possesses 

 the great advantage of being always at hand when re- 



