THE CONIFEROUS TIMBERS OF CANADA, ETC. 33 
price, a staple wood for the pianoforte trade, and its 
non-casting character, mellowness and general reli- 
ability have always made it the ideal wood for the making 
of patterns. 
Red Pine.—This is known as Norway Pine in Canada, 
and Yellow Pine in Nova Scotia, and is a conifer growing 
up to about 80 ft. in height and about 2 ft. in diameter. 
The wood is of reddish colour, generally clean in growth, 
and possesses good working qualities. It is durable 
and will stand well in outside positions, being, in most 
respects, similar to European red deal. Imported 
into England about the year 1756, in the shape of 
logs suitable for mast and spar purposes, it was much 
in favour for many years, but owing to the competition 
of European woods gradually lapsed in use. It is now, 
and has been for a long time, shipped in the form of 
planks and deals. Most of these imports arrive in the 
Thames, the wood having a limited sale otherwise than 
in the Metropolis and the southern parts of the Kingdom. 
Spruce.—This is another cone-bearing tree from 
which is obtained timber bearing some resemblance to 
the white wood imported from Northern Europe, and 
of which some account has been given. It is abundant 
in the Canadian forests, and is exported in considerable 
_ quantities to very many markets. 
In the Dominion and also in the States the timber is 
largely used for building purposes, but in England 
its use is principally confined to the packing-case trade, 
although in the Midlands and North-East a good pro- 
portion of the imports are used by builders for joists, 
rafters and other constructive parts of house-building. 
The wood is an excellent material for floor-boards, 
and much used in the Midlands for that purpose where 
a strong rough floor is a necessity, as for instance in 
factories. A fair amount is used by the pianoforte 
