Western Cedars: Cypresses. 307 



in Oregon, Washington Territory, and northward to Alaska, being 

 especially well developed upon the Coast and Cascade Ranges, where 

 it grows from 100 to 250 feet high, and from 3 to 12 feet in diam- 

 eter. When free to develop itself, it takes a narrow pyramidal 

 form, with somewhat drooping branches and a light green foliage. 

 It is not common in California, but is found as far south as San 

 Diego. 



1258. In British Columbia, this is called the " yellow cypress" or 

 " yellow cedar," and is limited to the coast and islands. It often 

 exceeds six feet in diameter, and the wood is strong, free, and of fine 

 grain, with a pale golden yellow tint, and a slight peculiar resinous 

 smell. It is very durable, and has been used to some extent for 

 boat-building and for various ornamental uses. The giant-cedar is 

 an important timber tree in British America, and on the coast it 

 often exceeds fifteen feet in diameter, with a height of 100 to 150 

 feet, but such trees are invariably hollow. The Indians use this 

 tree for making their large and elegant canoes, and from the fiber 

 of the inner bark they make ropes. 



1259. THE NOOTKA CEDAR (Thuja excelsa), heretofore known as 

 the "Curpessus Nuikanus" is found from Alaska southward to the 

 Columbia river, and grows to the height of 80 to 100 feet, with a 

 soft white and valuable wood. It is sometimes known as the " Or- 

 egon cedar," the " white cedar," the " ginger pine," etc. 



1260. LAWSON'S CEDAR (Thuja Lawsoniana) is a handsome tree, 

 growing in the Shasta mountains and northward, in the Cascade 

 range. This species is often cultivated for ornament, and it runs 

 into varieties, which are often very beautiful. 



THE CYPRESSES PROPER. (Genus Cupressus.) 



1261. These differ from Thuja, in being of stiffer and stronger 

 growth, having larger cones, with thick scales, and ripening the sec- 

 ond year. About a dozen species are known, of which four are found 

 in the United States, chiefly upon the Pacific Coast. 



1262. THE MONTEREY CYPRESS (Cupressus macrocarpa) grows in 

 a very limited region, near Monterey, and is a tree 40 to 50 feet 

 high, with a diameter of two to four feet. It is quite ornamental. 

 Three other species, the C. Goveniana, C. MacnaMana, and C. Arizo- 

 nica, have been described, but are of slight importance as timber 



