162 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 



maturing in the autumn of the first season but remaining on 

 the branch until the appearance of the new growth the follow- 

 ing spring. Seeds oval, about i of an inch wide and winged 

 all round. Leaves evergreen, small, awl or scale shaped, 

 closely imbricated and appressed so as to make a flat two- 

 edged branchlet; on the leading shoots the leaves are often i 

 of an inch long. A small genus of evergreen trees and 

 shrubs. Only one species, the Arborvitae, comes within our 

 range. 



Thuja Occident alls. Arborvitse. White Cedar. 



A tree 50 or 60 feet high, seldom two feet in diameter, but 

 occasionally much larger than this. There are many varie- 

 ties, the most of which are characterized by some peculiar 

 habit of the branches, or by peculiar coloring of the leaves. 



Distribution. From the Valley of the St. Lawrence to 

 Northern Pennsylvania, and from the Atlantic to Central 

 Minnesota. A very common tree in cold swamps and along 

 river banks and lake shores where the soil is moist. In Min- 

 nesota very common in the northeastern portion, west to 

 Rosseau County and south to the south shore of Mille Lacs 

 and the mouth of Snake River. It also occurs occasionally 

 as far south as the southeastern portion of Winona County. 

 In some sections, as along the Mississippi River in the 

 northern part of Aitkin County, it covers large areas with an 

 almost impenetrable growth, which are known as cedar 

 swamps. Not found in the western or southwestern parts of 

 this state. 



Propagation. The seeds of the Arborvitse grow readily, 

 but the seedlings must be protected from the full sunlight for 

 the first year. The many varieties are propagated from cut- 

 tings 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: sap- 

 wood 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 



