232 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 



Propagation. The seeds of the Arborvitae grow readily, but 

 the seedlings must be protected from the full sunlight for the first 

 year. The many varieties are propagated from cuttings in a cool 

 greenhouse or frame, and root very slowly. 



Properties of Wood. Very light, soft, close and often spirally 

 grained, very durable in contact with the soil, light yellowish 

 brown in color, turning darker on exposure; sapwood thin and 

 nearly white. Specific gravity, 0.3164; weight of a cubic foot, 

 19.72 pounds. 



Uses. The Arborvitae is a popular plant for evergreen 

 hedges, as it forms a close compact top when pruned, and is 

 of a bright green color. It stands well in this section when 

 growing on good retentive land, but suffers from a deficiency 

 of moisture in the soil and occasionally from severe winds 

 in winter, and on this account does best in somewhat shel- 

 tered locations. The wood is largely used for telegraph poles 

 and cross arms for same, fence posts, shingles, paving blocks 

 and for the siding of light weight boats and canoes, also for 

 tubs, pails, tanks and dash churns. The thick layers of the 

 sapwood, which are easily separated, are manufactured by the 

 Canadian Indians into baskets and are used to strengthen birch 

 bark canoes. The fresh branches often serve the purpose of 

 brooms. A decoction or tincture of the young branches of this 

 tree is used for intermittent fevers, coughs, scurvy, rheumatism, 

 etc., and externally to remove warts. "It is also used in homeo- 

 pathic practice. 



Varieties. 



Thuja occidentalis wareana. (T. sibiHca.} Siberian 

 Arborvitae. 



This is of a dark rich green color and compact habit. It is 

 one of the best kinds for favorable locations, but not so hardy as 

 the species or variety next described. 



Thuja occidentalis fastigiata. (7". o. fyramidalis.') 

 Pyramidal Arborvitse. 



Branches and leaves very distinct, fine and handsome. Form 

 upright, regular, pyramidal or almost columnar. Valuable for 

 variety, probably as hardy as the species and hardier than most 

 of the varieties. 



