CANADIAN TIMBER TREES. 37 
grows in rocky woods—common. It isa lofty, wide-spreading tree, about 70 feet 
in height, with a diameter of 3 or 4 feet. The bark is extensively used in tanning, 
and the wood is mostly emplvyed as fuel. This tree grows very rapidly and the 
timber is light, spongy, and not very durable. Oak timber generally shrinks about 
one thirty-second part of its original width in seasoning, acecording to most 
accurate experiments. 
The outside wood yields 20.5 per cent. and the inside 14.79 per cent. of potash, 
Specific gravity 0.675; weight of cubic foot 40 lbs. 
Value for heating purposes 69. 
25. Swamp Oak. Quercus discolor. 
Nat. Ord. Cupulifere. 
A very handsome middle-sized tree; grows abundantly in low alluvial grounds 
and along streams; light and elegant foliage; the sinuses of the leaves reaching 
three-fourths of the way to the midrib. The timber is better than that of the red 
oak, but greatly inferior to the white. The specific name discolor, or bicolor as 
it is called by some botanists, is derived from the circumstance of the remarkable 
appearance presented by the rich and luxuriant foliage, which is smooth and green 
above, and downy white beneath. 
Specific gravity 0.675; weight of cubic foot 40 lbs. 
26. Yetiow Pine. Pinus mitis. 
Nat. Ord, Conifere. 
A very well-known and valuable tree; grows in dry and sandy soils, common 
in all parts of the continent. Blossoms developed in spring, and cones commonly 
maturing in the autumn of the second year; the cones rarely exceed two inches 
long. Tree from 50 to 60 feet in height, producing a durable, fine-grained, 
moderately resinous timber, valuable for flooring and many other purposes in 
house carpentry and in cabinet making, It is also much used in America for 
ship-building purposes, 
Specifie gravity 0.52; weight of cubic foot 30 Ibs. 
Value for heating purposes 54. 
27. Rep Ping. Pinus resinosa. 
Nat. Ord. Conifere. 
The names commonly applied to the various species of pines refer to the colors 
of their respective timbers, which vary from white to dark red, according to the 
greater or less quantity of resinous matter or turpentine which they contain. The 
present species contains more than the yellow and less than the pitch pine. Grows 
in dry woods commonly; attains a height of from 50 to 80 feet, develops buds 
and cones same as the yellow pine. This species is commonly, though erroneously, 
called the Norway pine in this country. Bark smoother and of aclearer red than 
other pines. This pine affords a fine grained resinous timber, of much strength 
and durability, and highly valued in architecture. It isa very heavy material, 
and is apt to become brittle when very dry. On account of the resin which it 
contains, it is somewhat difficult to plane. 
Specific gravity 0.66; weight of cubic foot 40 lbs, 
Value for heating purposes 50, 
