THE FOREST TREES OF UPPER CANADA. 41 



split laths, known as Cyprus laths. Specific gravity, 0'45 ; weight of 

 cubic foot, 26 lbs. . 



45. Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana). — Grows in many parts of 

 Canada in dry rocky situations. It sometimes attains the size of 24 

 inches in diameter, but mostly smaller. Leaves are dark green, the 

 younger ones small, ovate, acute, scale-like, overlying each other. The 

 wood is fine-grained, compact, of a reddish hue, very light and durable. 

 It is used for fences, aqueducts, tubs and pails, and as cases for drawing 

 pencils — hence called pencil cedar. 



46. Hemlock {Abies Canadensis). — Common in the hilly, rocky lands 

 of Canada, attaining the height of 80 feet, and 3 feet in diameter. The 

 timber is soft, elastic, of a coarse, loose texture, not much used, but 

 sometimes substituted for pine ; resists well the effects of moisture, and 

 for this reason is used for railway ties. The bark is extensively used 

 in tanning. Specific gravity, - 45. 



47. Black Spruce (A. nigra). — This fine tree abounds in the higher 

 and mountainous land of Canada, attains a height of 80 feet. The tim- 

 ber is light, strong, and elastic, and, though inferior to white pine, is 

 still valuable. From the young twigs spruce beer is made. 



48. White Spruce (A alba). — A smaller tree than the black spruce, 

 but attains a height of 50 feet. Trunk from 12 to 1 8 inches in dia- 

 meter. Timber much the same as that of the black spruce. 



49. Canada Balsam. Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea). — Common in 

 humid grounds in the cooler latitudes of Canada, and attains a height of 

 30 to 40 feet. The bark is smooth, abounding in reservoirs filled with 

 a resin or balsam, which is considered valuable in medicine. 



50. Balsam Fir (A. Fraseri). — A smaller tree than the last. A 

 highly ornamental shade tree. 



51. Tamarac (Larix Americana). — A fall, slender tree, rising to the 

 height of 80 to 100 feet, abundant in Canada in low wet lands. The 

 wood is considered very valuable, being heavy, strong, and durable. 

 Called also American larch, and hackmatac. It has recently come into 

 great demand for ship building and railway ties, for which latter pur- 

 pose it is found to be well adapted, and very durable. The best oak is 

 superior to it only for the outside work of a ship. For knees, bends, 

 garlands, &c, of a ship, no wood is better. It is remarkably distin- 

 guished from the pines by its deciduous leaves, being bare nearly half 

 the year. It is found up to a very high latitude, even in Hudson's Bay. 

 Specific gravity, 0-6. 



52. Sassafras (Sassafras officinale). — Found only in the western 

 part of Upper Canada ; grows to the height of 50 to 60 feet, and 15 

 inches in diameter. The timber is of little value, but used for light 

 ornamental purposes on account of the fragrant odour. Every part of 

 the tree has a pleasant fragrance and an aromatic taste, strongest in the 



