280 THE FORESTS OF CANADA. 



Betulaeese. 



Black birch (B. lento) grows in dry undulating land, 

 and is a very common forest tree in Lower Canada and 

 the maritime provinces. It indicates good soil, and is 

 generally found in company with the yellow birch, with 

 the maple, the beech, the hemlock, or the pine. It is 

 valuable, but owing to its great weight, hard to bring to 

 market. Birch timber will not float down the streams 

 when green, and consequently has to be cut a year before 

 it is rafted. The wood is dark in colour, pretty in the 

 grain, and much used for furniture. It is used to make 

 keels for wooden ships, and for other purposes in ship- 

 building and machinery, where strength, hardness, and 

 durability are required. A great deal of birch timber is 

 exported to Europe ; it makes capital fuel. 



Yellow birch (B. excelsa). This is like the black birch, 

 both in foliage and quality of timber, but smaller. It is 

 abundant in Canada, and is chiefly used for firewood. 

 When bled in the spring the sap makes good vinegar. 



White birch (B. alba). The general character of a 

 North American forest is dark and sombre, but wherever 

 this tree occurs it helps to light it up. Its tall, graceful 

 stem of pure white forms a charming contrast to the 

 spruce and other trees it grows amongst. It is very 

 hardy, and is found the farthest north of the deciduous 

 trees. The wood is inferior, and not much used even for 

 fuel; but the bark is a treasure to the Indian and the 

 backwoodsman. The former makes his canoe of birch 

 bark, his wigwam, his troughs for holding water and 

 .collecting the sap of the sugar maple, his torches for 

 spearing fish, and the numerous little ornamental wares 



