232 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 
Propagation.—The sceds of the Arborvite 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 1Vood.—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 Arborvite 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, 
ete., and externally to remove warts. It is also used in homeo- 
pathic practice. 
Varicties.— 
Thuja occidentalis wareana. (7. s¢irica.) Siberian 
Arborvite. 
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. 0. pAyramidalis.) 
Pyramidal Arborvite. 
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, 
