THE FOREST TREES OF UPPER CANADA. 33 



and abundant summer rains are, unquestionably, those conditions of cli- 

 mate necessary to produce these peculiar forest trees. The western coasts 

 of both continents, in high latitudes, have the necessary moisture, but not 

 the high summer temperature ; the western prairies, east of the Missis- 

 sippi, and the vast deserts west of it, have the summer heat but not the 

 moisture ; hence the absence of all trees in the one region, and of the 

 deciduous trees in the other. 



1. White Pine (Pinus strobus). — Grows in all parts of Canada in 

 extensive groves, or scattered amongst the deciduous forests. Average 

 height, 140 to 160 feet ; average diameter, 3 and 4 feet ; but common 

 at 5 and 6 feet in diameter and 200 feet high, especially near the shores 

 of Lake Erie. Trees of 22 feet in circumference and 220 feet in height 

 and 120 to first limb, are sometimes found. The trunk is perfectly 

 straight. The wood is soft-grained, easily wrought, and durable ; used 

 in immense quantities in architecture. The large trunks are parti- 

 cularly sought for masts of ships. Largely exported to England, where 

 it is called " Weymouth pine." Specific gravity, - 46 ; weight of cubic 

 foot, 29 lbs. 



2. Red Pine (Pinus resinosa). — Found in dry soils and in the cooler 

 latitudes of Canada, and attains the height of 80 feet, with a trunk 2 

 feet in diameter, very straight and uniform. It affords a fine grained, 

 resinous timber, of much strength and durability, and highly valued in 

 architecture Specific gravity, - 66 ; weight of cubic foot, 40 lbs. 



3. Yellow Pine (P. mitis). — -Grows in dry and sandy soils, common in 

 all parts of the country ; attains the height of 60 feet ; wood close, fine 

 grained, durable, and moderately resinous, and much used for ship 

 building and all kinds of architecture. Specific gravity, 0'52 ; weight of 

 cubic foot, 30lbs. 



4. White Oak (Quercus alba). — Widely distributed throughout 

 Canada in all rich soils. Average height, 130 feet ; height to first limb, 

 70 feet ; diameter, 30 inches, and quite common, 60 inches in diameter, 

 found 84 inches in diameter in the western parts of Upper Canada. Of 

 the twenty varieties of oaks in North America, the white is the most 

 valuable. The wood is of great strength and durability, and extensively 

 used in ship-building, for staves of casks, spokes and naves of waggon 

 wheels, railway ties, &c. ; bark useful in tanning and in medicine. The 

 timber is largely exported to England and the West Indies, and can be 

 furnished in the remotest parts of Upper Canada at 40£. sterling per 

 1,000 cubic feet ; freight to Quebec about 11 1, sterling per 1,000 cubic 

 feet. Specific gravity, 0.84 ; weight of cubic foot fully seasoned, 50 lbs. 

 Potash obtained from onter wood, 13-41, and from heart wood, 9-68 per 

 cent. ; value for heating purposes, 81 (shell-bark hickory being 100). 



5. Black Oak (Quercus tinctoria). — One of the largest trees of our 

 forest, 100 to 130 feet in height, and 4, 5, and 6 feet in diameter. Not 



vol. in. c 



