74 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



24. THUJA OCCIDENTALS, L 



ARBOR- VIT^E, WHITE CEDAR. 



Ger., Amerikanische Lebendbaum; Fr., Thuja d' Occident; Sp., Tnya 



Occidental. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves in four rows, appressed as described for the genus 

 and flattened horizontally, all on the same branchlet lying in approximately the 

 same plane and making a spreading, fan-like spray. Cones scarcely in. (1.27 cm. ) in 

 length, oblong, with loose, truncate scales, and of a light-brown or brownish-yellow 

 color; seeds winged all round 



(The specific name, occidentals, is the Latin for western,, meaning here of the 

 Western Hemisphere.) 



A tree not often over 60 ft. (18 m.) in height with a thick trunk, some- 

 times 4 ft. (1.22 in.) in diameter at base, rapidly diminishing in size 

 upwards, and frequently somewhat curved at the base. The heart-wood 

 is of light-brown color, often with a slightly reddish tint; sap-wood, 

 which is very thin, lighter. 



HABITAT. Northern United States and northward to British America, 

 southward little, if any, beyond the latitude of central Pennsylvania, 

 excepting along the mountains. It is found in swamps and along river 

 banks and lake shores, where the soil is considerably moist. A very 

 abundant tree in many sections. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood very light, soft and close-grained, 

 compact, not strong, easily split and durable. It possesses a rather pleas- 

 ant and characteristic odor. Specific Gravity, 0.3164; Percentage of 

 Ash, 0.37; Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 0.3152; Coefficient of Elas- 

 ticity, 53311; Modulus of Rupture, 512; Resistance to Longitudinal 

 Pressure, 306; Resistance to Indentation, 60; Weight of a Cubic Foot 

 in Pounds, 19.72. 



USES. The principal use of this timber is for fence-posts and tele- 

 graph-poles, for which it is excellent and very extensively used. It is 

 among the best of our timbers on account of its lightness, as well as 

 other good qualities, for the siding of skiffs, canoes etc., which must be 

 light in order to be easily carried over portages. We have seen one 

 made of this wood, and weighing only 10^ Ibs., yet large enough to 

 carry one man and baggage over quiet waters, probably the lightest 

 wooden craft ever used in navigation. Such is the lightness, durability 

 and strength of this timber. White Cedar is largely used for shingles, 

 and to some extent for pails, buckets etc. 



As an ornamental tree, particularly for hedges, it is very useful. For 

 the latter use it is often employed, and, when rightly attended to, is 

 scarcely surpassed in compactness and neatness. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. A decoction or tincture of the leaves of this 

 tree is sometimes used in intermittent -fevers, coughs, scurvy, rheu- 



