The Deciduous Woods of British Columbia. 119 



the coast of the mainland. It attains a size of about a foot in 

 diameter, but is more frequently smaller. The wood is of a light 

 yellow color, close-grained and hard. Not used, except for 

 ornamental purposes. The bark, which is the medicinal Cascara 

 Sagrada of commerce, has been collected in large quantities in the 

 adjoining States, where, on account of the wasteful methods 

 practised, the tree is fast disappearing, and frequent enquiries 

 have been made as to its occurrence in this province and the 

 chances for obtaining a supply of the bark. I have discouraged all 

 enquirers as I am of opinion that such matters should be strictly 

 supervised and if possible, made a source of revenue. The bark is 

 white and smooth, the leaves a beautiful dark green, the fruit 

 black, about the size of a pea, and much affected by wild pigeons. 



Crab Apple — Pirus rivularis, with a synonym of Mains 

 rivularis grows commonly in swamps on the mainland, to the 

 westward of the Coast Range, on Vancouver Island and the Gulf 

 islands. It seldom attains a larger size than nine inches, the 

 wood is hard and close grained, and is principally used for rollers 

 in mills and for like purposes. The bark is dark and somewhat 

 roughened, the leaves resemble those of the domestic apple, some- 

 what smaller, the flowers are white, resembhng apple blossoms, 

 and sweet-smelling. The fruit is intensely acid, and makes good 

 jelly. The natives use it cooked, mixed with oolachan grease, 

 and in that form it is considered a great delicacy. Crab stocks 

 are sometimes used for grafting apples upon, and succeed very 

 well, when good healthy stocks are used. 



White Thorn — Crataegus rividaris, and possibly another 

 variety, is found in most parts of the province, growing to a size 

 of six inches, and from twelve to fifteen feet high. The wood is 

 not used for any purpose ; it is an excessively thorny tree with a 

 white bark, the leaves a bright green, flowers white in corymbs, 

 and very ill-smelling, something Hke bad fish. Prof. Sargent, 

 the American authority on forestry, has been working on this 

 genus, and makes out 115 varieties. Pears may be grafted on 

 the White Thorn, but I found in one instance, that Bartletts, 

 although attaining a fine size, quite lost their identity, and were 

 quite useless. 



Birch — Betnla papyrifera or B. occidentalis. — There is some 

 confusion as to the proper designation of our large western 

 variety. Its range is principally on the mainland, some few 

 specimens occurring in scattered localities on Vancouver Island. 

 In some places it grows to quite a large tree, two to two and a 

 half feet through, but generally it does not attain a larger size 

 than 8 to 10 inches. The bark is quite white, on the outside, 

 and was used by the natives of the interior in the construction 

 of canoes, baskets, etc. ; the wood is white, but has not been used 

 for any particular purpose but fire-wood. It makes a fine oma- 



