THE FOREST TREES OP UPPER CANADA. 39 



work and furniture, in pianofortes and musical instruments, for cutting- 

 boards for curriers, shoemakers, &c, as it does not bias the knife in the 

 direction of the grain ; it turns cleanly, and is much used in manufac- 

 turing bowls, pails, shovels, &c. Cost, at the ports of the lakes, 371. 

 sterling per 1,000 cubic feet ; freight to Quebec, 11. Specific gravity, 

 0-48 ; weight of cubic foot, 26 lbs. Of the same genus as the lime or 

 linden in England. 



33. White Wood (Liriodendron tidipifera). — Grows only in the 

 western parts of Upper Canada, and attains a height of 130 feet, 70 feet 

 to the first limb, and 36 inches in diameter, and not uncommon 60 

 inches in diameter. Very abundant in the south-western counties of 

 Canada, and can be furnished at 35Z. sterling per 1,000 cubic feet ; freight 

 to Quebec, 81. It is called also the tulip tree ; and in some localities, 

 erroneously, yellow poplar. The wood is extensively used as a substi- 

 tute for pine for building and cabinet purposes. It is easily wrought, 

 durable, and susceptible of a fine polish. Specific gravity, - 5 ; weight 

 of cubic foot, 30 lbs. 



34. Buttonwood (Platanus occidentalis). — Called also plane-tree, and, 

 improperly, sycamore. It is very abundant in the western and south- 

 western parts of Canada, attaining an average height of 1 20 feet, 60 feet 

 to first limbs, and 30 inches in diameter, and not uncommon at 60 inches 

 in diameter. It yields a clean wood, softer than beech, very difficult, 

 almost impossible, to split. Sometimes mottled, used in furniture 

 chiefly for bedsteads, pianofortes, and harps, for screws, presses, wind- 

 lasses, wheels, blocks, &c, and immense quantities exported to Virginia 

 for tobacco boxes. Prices and freight same as for white wood. Specific 

 gravity, - 5. 



35. Poplar (Populus monilifera) — Called also cotton wood. A large 

 forest tree occurring on the margins of lakes and rivers. The timber is 

 soft, light, easy to work, suited for carving, common turning, and works 

 not exposed to much wear. The wooden polishing wheels of glass 

 grinders are made of horizontal sections of the entire tree. The seeds 

 are clothed in white cotton-like down, hence the name. Specific gra- 

 vity, 0-4. 



36. Balsam Poplar {Populus halsamifera). — Also a large tree, grow- 

 ing in wet, low lands ; wood resembling the previous. None of the pop- 

 lars are used as large timbers. 



37. White Willow (Salix alia). — A familiar tree of rapid growth, 

 attaining a height of 50 to 80 feet ; originally from Europe. The tim- 

 ber is the softest and lightest of all our woods. The colour is whitish, 

 inclining to yellowish grey. It is planed into chips for hat-boxes, bas- 

 kets, &c. Attempts have been made to use it in the manufacture of 

 paper ; small branches are used for hoops for tubs, &c. : the larger wood 

 for cricket bats, boxes for druggists, perfumers, &c. Specific gravity, 

 0*4 ; weight of cubic foot, 24 lbs. 



