174 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 



arts ; but, as a building wood, it can never be in favour, 

 and is quite unfit for architectural or engineering works 

 requiring strength or durability. 



There are about half-a-dozen other Canadian Oaks 

 of excellent quality, the Black Oak (Q. tinctoria), Red 

 Oak (g. rubra), Mossy Cup {Q. olivczformis), Swamp 

 White Oak (g. prinns bicolor), Pin Oak {Q. palustris), 

 being the best. 



The Canadian or Quebec Oak is the White Oak (g. 

 alba), but it is generally quoted in the market at about 

 20 per cent, higher than the Baltimore Oak : probably 

 this is chiefly owing to its superior dimensions rather 

 than to any difference in the quality. 



America produces, besides the foregoing, the Rough 

 or Post Oak (g. stellata) ; the Rock Chestnut Oak {Q. 

 montana) ; and the Scarlet Oak {Q. coccinea) ; all these 

 are largely used in architectural works, and for agri- 

 cultural implements, both in the United States and in 

 Canada. 



The chief Californian Oaks are the Long Acorned 

 Oak (Q, Hindsii), the Chestnut Oak (Q. densiflora), and 

 the Californian Evergreen Oak (Q. agrifolia), but their 

 timber is of little value, and hardly known in commerce. 



CANADIAN ASH {Froximis sambucifolia) . 

 The timber of this tree is often confounded with the 

 American White Ash, also found in Canada. It attains 

 good dimensions, and yields the timber of commerce in 

 logs varying from 20 to 40 feet in length, by from 10 to 

 16 inches square. Oar rafters are also produced from 

 it, and until quite recently considerable quantities were 

 brought to this country. These rafters are pieces roughly 

 shaped to the form of oars, and reduced to a minimum 

 of size, to lessen, as far as possible, the cost of freight. 



