THE FOREST TREES OF UPPER CANADA. 35 



than the black walnut, shrinks but little, and is used in panneling, in 

 ornamental work, and for furniture. The bark is used in dyeing, and 

 from it is extracted an excellent cathartic. Specific gravity, 0426 ; 

 weight of cubic foot, 26 lbs. ; outside wood contains 4 - 42 per cent, 

 potash ; inside, 1-42 per cent. 



11. Shell-bark Hickory {Carya alba). — A tall and slender forest 

 tree, of an average height of 110 feet, 50 feet to the first limb, and 18 

 inches in diameter. The fruit is covered with a very thick epicarp, 

 separating into four parts, and containing a thin-shelled, highly-flavoured 

 kernel. The tree is covered with shaggy bark, consisting of long, narrow 

 plates loosely adhering by the middle ; hence called shell or shaggy- 

 bark hickory. It is also called walnut in parts of the country where the 

 black walnut does not grow. It is the heaviest of all Canadian woods, 

 strong, compact, and elastic, and much used where these qualities are 

 required, as for the handles of all kinds of tools, and spokes of carriage 

 wheels, shafts and poles of carriages, hoops, whip stalks, hand-spikes, 

 &c. From the bark is extracted a yellow dye. Specific gravity, 0-929 ; 

 weight of cubic foot, 58 lbs. ; value for heating purposes, 100* (the best 

 of all Canadian woods) ; inside wood contains 20 per cent, of potash ; 

 outside, 7*5 per cent. 



12. Smooth-bark Hickory {Carya glabra). — Nearly all the remarks 

 made in reference to the shell-bark hickory apply to this species, and 

 the wood is used for the same purposes, although it is not quite so 

 highly esteemed. The bark of the tree is smooth, and the kernel of the 

 nut very bitter in contrast with the other or sweet nut hickory. 



13 and 14. Sugar or Hard Maple and Bird's-Eye Maple {Acer 

 saccharinum) and Red or Swamp Maple (.4. rubrum). — Found abun- 

 dantly throughout Canada in all rich soils, and attains a height of 130 

 feet and 12 feet in circumference. From its beauty and abundance in 

 Canada, the leaf of the maple has been adopted as the national emblem. 

 The timber is very beautiful, and is distinguished as bird's-eye maple 

 and mottled or curly maple {Acer rubrum), and is much used for picture 

 frames and in furniture ; the less ornamental portions of the timber are 

 much used for house carpentery and furniture. When well seasoned it 

 is one of the hardest kinds of wood ; carriage and waggon-makers prize 

 it highly for axles and for purposes where great strength and the least 

 deflection are required. Its value for heating purposes is unsurpassed- 

 It is from this maple that so much sugar is made. This and the soft 

 maple {Acer dasycarpwni) are most planted for ornamental and shade 

 trees in lawns and gardens. The wood can be furnished at Quebee at 

 about 45Z. sterling per 1,000 cubic feet. Potash in the outer wood, 8 - 77 ; 

 in the inner, 4 - 21 per cent. Specific gravity, 0'6 ; weight of cubic foot, 



* In estimating the value of the several kinds of wood for fuel, the shell-bark 

 hickory is made the standard, and called 100. 



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