OUR COMMON WOODS 225 



The wood is used for construction, carpentry, oars, sounding 

 boards for musical instruments, and paper pulp. 

 4. Tamarack. Resin ducts the same as in the spruces. The 

 color of the heartwood is yellowish or russet brown; that of 

 the distinct sapwood much lighter. The wood is consider- 

 ably like hard pine, but lacks the resinous odor and the 

 resin ducts are much fewer and smaller. 

 The wood is used largely for cross-ties, fence posts, telegraph 

 and telephone poles, and to a limited extent for lumber in 

 general construction. 



B. Woods without resin ducts. 



1. Hemlock. The wood has a disagreeable, rancid odor, 

 is splintery, not resinous, with decided contrast between 

 early and late wood. Color light brown with a slight tinge 

 of red, the heart little if any darker than the sapwood. 

 Hemlock makes a rather poor lumber which is used for general 

 construction, also for cross-ties, and pulp. 



2. Balsam fir. Usually odorless, not splintery, not resinous, 

 with little contrast between early and late wood. Color 

 white or very light brown with a pinkish hue to the late wood. 

 Heartwood little if any darker than the sapwood. Closely 

 resembles spruce, from which it can be distinguished by its 

 absence of resin ducts. 



The wood is used for paper pulp in mixture with spruce. 

 Also for general construction to some extent. 



3. Cypress. Odorless except in dark-colored specimens which 

 are somewhat rancid. Smooth surface of sound wood looks 

 and feels greasy or waxy. Moderate contrast between early 

 and late wood. Color varies from straw color to dark brown, 

 often with reddish and greenish tinge. Heartwood more 

 deeply colored than the sapwood but without distinct boundary 

 line. 



Wood used in general construction, especially in places where 

 durability is required; also for shingles, cooperage, posts, 

 and poles. 



4. Red Cedar. Has a distinct aromatic odor. Wood uniform- 

 textured; late wood usually very thin, inconspicuous. Color 

 deep reddish brown or purple, becoming dull upon exposure; 

 numerous minute red dots often visible under lens. Sapwood 



