ON THE FOREST-TREES OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 435 



expense in their transit to market are very great, and largely enhance their 

 value. It may be well to remark here, that many of our best ships have 

 been constructed of tamarac timber — among the number may be mentioned, 

 with no small degree of pride, the fast sailing ship " Marco Polo," and 

 others of later date and nearly equal renown. Indeed, ships built of this 

 material, and noted for their beauty, buoyancy, and fast sailing qualities, 

 are to be found in all the principal lines of Australian and other oceanic 

 clippers. Many, if not all, of these ships have been built according to the 

 established rules laid down by the Committee of Lloyd's Register of British 

 and Foreign Shipping, and have deservedly attained a high character. 



Tamarac, when devoid of sap and seasoned, has been said to last in ships 

 for a longer period than the seven years at present assigned to it by Lloyd's. 

 It is extremely strong and elastic, and being devoid of acid, tends to pre- 

 serve the iron or metal fastening from oxidation, which is more than can be 

 said of even English, African, or other oaks. 



The tamarac tree grows on a variety of soils, but more particularly in low 

 swamps, as well as on the most rocky and sterile ground, and as luxuriantly 

 as other trees of the forest in more favoured localities. 



Birch (Betula). — The next descriptions of wood in general use, espe- 

 cially for ship-building purposes, are the birches, which embrace four kinds, 

 the black, yellow, grey, and white. 



Black Birch. — This tree is produced in unlimited numbers, and grows 

 to a height of fifty and sixty feet, and upwards of four feet in diameter. 

 The wood is prepared in large baulks, and shipped to the markets of Great 

 Britain and elsewhere. In ships of the seven years and lower classes, it is 

 very generally used for planking, midship floors, and foot-hooks. When 

 confined under water, it is considered to be unsurpassed by any other 

 material of a like nature, for ship-building purposes. In planking ships 

 of the seven years' class, its height is properly restricted to the light line ; 

 in vessels of the six years' class, it is allowed for first foot-hooks amidships, 

 not exceeding one half the length of the keel ; and in vessels of the four 

 years' class its use is unrestricted, except for the main pieces of rudder and 

 windlass ; when used for these purposes, it is confined to vessels under 

 300 tons register. This wood is likewise generally used by boat-builders, 

 cabinet-makers, carriage-builders, and for other mechanical purposes ; and 

 it is very extensively used for fuel. The land whereon the black birch is 

 found is generally of a good description, and much esteemed for agricultural 

 purposes. 



Yellow Birch is very plentiful in various parts of the province ; in- 

 deed, as much so as the black birch. It grows to a height of sixty and 

 sometimes seventy feet, and about four feet in diameter. This wood is close 

 in grain, and as much used by ship-builders, carriage-makers, and others, 

 as the black birch ; and like it, too, is prepared and shipped in baulks, for 

 sale in the various European timber markets, and extensively used by the 

 people in the province for fueL 



White Birch. — This tree is to be found in abundance in every section 



K K 2 



