142 Forests and Trees 



When the scarcity of pine made it necessary for the lumber- 

 man to resort to hemlock its evil reputation increased. The 

 wood was so near the weight of water that it would scarcely 

 float. If the riverman. stepped on a hemlock log it promptly 

 sank under him ; and after a drive had been safely run down 

 to the mill, the hemlock logs would all go to the bottom. The 

 river-driver called them slugs. 



No doubt much of the bad reputation of the hemlock was 

 due to being always associated with the white pine. It suf- 

 fered in the comparisons which were always being made. This 

 is well illustrated in a woodman's story of their origin. It 

 was said that when the beneficent Providence wished to bestow 

 a blessing on man he made the white pine. His Satanic Majesty, 

 however, would not be outdone. He too would show his power, 

 and perchance increase his popularity, by making a pine tree. 

 But when it was made it turned out to be a hemlock, and so 

 shaky that he had to pin it together with knots. 



This tree of evil repute does not extend west of Lake Superior, 

 and the two species found in British Columbia have not had 

 to bear comparisons with the eastern white pine, or the oaks, 

 maples, hickories and walnuts of the eastern hardwoods. We 

 need not be surprised, therefore, if the western trees bear a 

 better reputation. 



The genus has only eight members, four in America and four 

 in Asia. There are no European hemlocks. The name " tsuga " 

 is the Japanese name for two of their best timber trees. The 

 genus is easily distinguished by the rough, reddish-brown bark, 

 leaves usually arranged in rows on opposite sides of the stem, and 

 small drooping cones made up of very thin scales loosely over- 

 lapping. The cones mature in one year but shed their seeds 

 gradually, and the old cones fall off during the second summer. 



The wood is extensively used as lumber, but is suitable only 

 for rough work. It is hard to work and warps badly when 

 exposed to the weather. 



