TIMBER OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 83 



The western larch or tamarack (Larix occidentalis) is little 

 inferior to oak in strength and durability, grows to a height 

 of 100 to 150 ft., and yields a timber of light brown colour 

 with lighter sapwood, has a fine, slightly satiny grain, and 

 is fairly free from knots ; the annual rings are distinct. It 

 is very largely used for railway sleepers in Canada, also 

 for planking sidewalks and footpaths in towns, and it is 

 employed to a small extent in shipbuilding. 



The Common or American Larch or Black Larch 

 (L. amcricana) is common in the northern parts of 

 Manitoba ; it is a smaller tree than the western larch, 

 about 80 ft. in height and 2 to 3 ft. diameter, and produces 

 hard coarse-grained but strong and durable timber. It is 

 valued for sleepers, telegraph poles and posts. It often 

 inhabits swamps and low-lying ground, where the trees are 

 smaller and the timber produced is of poorer quality. 



The American larches, like those of Europe, have straight 

 and tapering stems ; their timber resembles that of the 

 best hard pine, both in appearance and quality and in its 

 uses, and it is very durable. They grow plentifully in 

 Canada and the northern parts of the States. Their 

 timber is somewhat similar to, probably rather better 

 than, the European larches, but it is not yet a commercial 

 commodity in Great Britain, nor is it largely used in the 

 United States. The tree is peculiarly liable to disease. 



Weight 34 to 42 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga cnnadensis), often called spruce 

 or hemlock spruce, and by the French in Canada "Peruche," 

 is a medium-sized tree found in the same districts as black 

 spruce. It produces a coarse-grained wood, brittle, subject 

 to shakes, easily split, a softish timber but rather firmer 

 than white pine ; it is used as a substitute for that timber. 

 It grows plentifully in New York State and Pennsylvania, 



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