ON THE FOREST-TREES OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 441 



is said to retain its fastenings in a better state, and for a much longer time, 

 than any other tree in the forest, and to resist the attack of insects. It 

 splits easily, and is very valuable for fencing-poles, posts, pickets, railway- 

 sleepers, planking of boats, and is very generally used by the Indians in 

 manufacturing pails, tubs, and churns. Shingles are made from it, and 

 shipped in very large quantities to the West Indian and other markets. 

 The Committee of Lloyds' Register allow it in many parts of the higher 

 class colonial ships. Cedar most abounds in swamps, and although the soil 

 in which it grows is damp and cold, yet it is alluvial; and valued for the 

 large crops it produces. 



American Lime Tree (Tilsa Americana). — The American lime tree, 

 generally known as the bass-wood tree, grows to a large size in New Bruns- 

 wick forests, in many instances exceeding eighty feet in height, and of a 

 proportionate diameter. It presents a very fine appearance in the forest, 

 having, with its loftiness, perfect symmetry, but it is not much valued as 

 timber, being rather deficient in strength, and is not extensively used. The 

 wood makes a very smooth and clean finish, and owing to this and its 

 elasticity, is mostly used by carriage-makers for frame-work, as it is not so 

 liable to shrink as other descriptions of wood ; ship-builders use it for ship's 

 rails in many cases. It grows in large quantities in the northern parts of 

 the province. 



Ash (Fraxius). — There are three kinds of ash — the white, black, and 

 yellow or splint ash. 



"White Ash. — This tree reaches a height of fifty and sixty feet, and a 

 diameter of nearly two feet. It does not generally grow in groves, but is 

 very much scattered and intermixed with other trees. The wood is very 

 elastic, much more so than any other wood found in the forest. It is 

 extensively used by carriage-makers for shafts and poles, runners of sleds 

 and sleighs ; and by boat-builders for planking. Capstan-bars, oars, staves, 

 scythe and axe handles are made of it, and indeed all the implements of 

 agriculture in which wood is deemed necessary. 



The ash tree bears a beautiful foliage, and makes a very fine ornamental 

 tree. 



Black Ash. — The black ash grows to a size nearly similar to that of 

 the white ash, but the wood is not so dense, nor yet so much esteemed for 

 general purposes. Among the Indians, however, it is very frequently used 

 in the manufacture of baskets, &c. It is found in low, flat land, and on the 

 banks of streams. Wherever this description of tree is found, the land is 

 generally alluvial. 



Yellow Ash — The yellow or splint ash is unlimited in quantity ; but 

 seldom, if ever, exceeds twenty feet in height. It is found in swampy 

 ground, of a character not much esteemed for agricultural purposes. The 

 wood is chiefly used by coopers. 



Hemlock {Abies). — Of this there are two descriptions — the black and 

 white hemlock. These trees reach a height of seventy and eighty feet, are 



