;o Hoi -uifr-, AMKKICAN WOODS. 



wholesome beverage, especially in summer, and it is sometimes useful on 

 long sea- voyages as a preventive of scurvy,* 



21. ABIES CANADENSIS, MICHX. 



HEMLOCK, II KM LOCK FIR. 

 Ger., Scliierling-Tannc; Fr., Feruclie; Sp., Abcto Canadense. 



SPECIFIC C'liAK.u TEKS: Isucc.* linear, short, flat, in. (I cm. ), or slightly more 

 in length, flat, obtuse, obscurely denticulate, whitened beneath, short-petioled and 

 diverging in opposite, directions from the sides of the branchlet. Flvirers appear in 

 May. >y< / -i!( flowers in small globose catkins each of a few capitate anthers whose 

 short, confluent cells open transversely; pollen grains simple. Fruit small ovoid 

 cones, scarcely longer than the leaves, 'pendent from the tips of the branches of the 

 preceding year, persistent, \\iih inconspicuous bracts, and of fe\v, thin, rounded, 

 entire scales, which are persistent on the axis. 



A handsome tree, sometimes attaining the dimensions of 100 ft. (30 

 in.) in height with a trunk 3 ft. (0.01 m.) in diameter, quite straight 

 and covered with firm., ridged bark. The sprays of young vigorous trees 

 are peculiarly light and graceful in appearance, of dark green color above 

 and showing in pretty contrast the whitish under surfaces, when turned 

 up by the winds. The beauty is enhanced in early summer bv each 

 branchlet being tipped with the delicate light -green new shoots of the 

 season. 



HABITAT. North-eastern Tinted States generally, Canada, New 

 Brunswick and Nova. Scotia, southward to North Carolina and Tennessee 

 among the mountains and, according to Dr. Mohr, into Alabama. A 

 very abundant tree in many of (lie forests of the north-east. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood light, rather soft and brittle, coarse- 

 grained and not very easily worked, of a light, somewhat, reddish or 

 brownish color, with lighter sap-wood and conspicuous grain. Specific 

 G rarity, O.x!430: Percentage of A$h, 0.46; Relative Approximate Fuel 

 Value, 0.4^<; Coefficient of Elasticity, 80070; Modulus of Rupture, 730; 

 Re*i4(tnw lo Longitudinal Presfuuv, 384; /ifts-ittance to Indentation, 82; 

 Wfifjht of a Cubic Foot in I*ouiulx, 20.4'v. 



I'SES. This timber is extensively cmnloved throughout its rano-e for 



*- i o o 



joists, rafters, planks and siding for building purposes, fences, plank- 

 walks etc., for which use it is invaluable. Lath are extensively made of 

 this timber, and many trees of small size are felled for railroad ties. 



Perhaps the principal point of value of this tree lies in its bark, which 

 is verv rich in tannin, and in the north it, is by far the chief source of 

 that product for tanning leather. 



