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the walnut groves being free from underbrush afford a pleasant contrast 

 to the generality of bush scenery. Its wood is light, soft, easily worked 

 and very durable, close grained and highly ornamental, is of a dark 

 brown hue and unequalled for beanty on the American continent. It is 

 largely in demand for cabinet work, furniture, and the finer branches of 

 the joiner's art! From its scarcity it commands a high pric*e. 



THE HICKORY (Carya), is a tree of stiff growth and appearance, attain- 

 ing a considerable size, and from its peculiar features gives at once an 

 idea of solidity. It attains a considerable size, and is generally found 

 growing in clumps or groves, free from, undergrowth. Its wood is heavy, 

 strong, tenacious, and elastic, and furnishes the best and most valuable 

 firewood of any of our trees. It is largely used for implements of hus- 

 bandry, carriages, and from its toughness, pliability, and elasticity, is in 

 demand for fishing-rods, axe-handles, &c. The nuts it produces are 

 highly esteemed. There are several species of this tree. The Shell-bark 

 (Carya alba), is a tree from 50 to 70 feet in height, with a trunk 2 to 5 feet 

 in diameter, preferring dry upland soil. Its wood is very heavy, strong, 

 and tenacious. The Butternut, or Swamp Hickory (Carya Amara), is a 

 small or medium-sized tree, generally found in low grounds ; the nut is 

 thin shelled, exceedingly bitter, and not eatable. Its wood has the 

 general characteristics of the family, but is lighter, and in every way less 

 valuable. The Pignut ( Carya poreina), sometimes called Brown Hickory, 

 is a medium-sized tree, preferring a dry soil. Its wood is very similar to 

 that of the Shell-bark. The White-heart Hickory (Carya tomentosa), also 

 prefers dry rocky or stony land, and is occasionally found along the gra- 

 velly banks of streams. Its wood is much the same as all the other 

 hickories. 



THE OAK (Quercus), of Canada is inferior in the quality of its timber to 

 the British oak, but its wood is of great strength, weight, and durability. 

 It is far less lofty than the pine, and has no pretensions to the beauty of 

 the elm, but as an emblem of robust vigour, it stands at the head of all 

 the trees of the forest. Its wood is in great request for agricultural 

 implements, boat and shipbuilding, carriages, sleighs, and for cooperage 

 purposes ; also for railway ties, posts, piles, and for fuel. The White Oak 

 ( Quercus alba), is a large tree, 60 to 80 feet in height, and being of the very 

 first economic value, and superior to all other oaks in the quality and 

 value of its wood, ranks high. This species has the peculiarity of tena- 

 ciously holding on its dried leaves during the winter season. Its wood is 

 light-coloured, strong, elastic, heavy, and durable ; is largely employed in 

 cooperage. The Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor), is a large tree with 

 great circumference of trunk, and delights in swampy land and to grow 

 along streams. Its wood is said to be equal to white oak. The Scarlet 

 Oak (Quercus corcinea), a middle-sized tree, prefers light sandy soil 

 Garry's Oak (Quercus Garryana), found on the Pacific coast, though not 

 abundant, is a tree of from 70 to 100 feet high, and extends further north 

 than any other oak of the Pacific coast. Its wood is hard, brittle, and is 

 used for flooring and other purposes in building, and for cooperage. The 



