210 The Hon. William Sheppard on the Distribution 
resemblance. Itis a beautiful object on the lawn, with its 
graceful branches regularly feathered down to the ground. 
Abies nigra (Black Spruce).—This is a somewhat taller 
and .stouter tree than the last-described species, on which 
account it is more useful as a deal-producing timber, the 
quality being very similar. It is widely diffused throughout 
the country, grows on dry and rocky soils, and is generally 
found along with the white spruce, though in some localities 
inhabited by this species the other is absent. This is the 
tree from whose branches the well-known spruce beer is manu- 
factured, a wholesome and pleasant beverage in warm weather. 
Larix americana (American Larch, Tamarac).—The leaves 
of our larch are in bundles of many, and are deciduous, like its 
congener of the Old World. It delights in rich moist lands, 
where it attains the height of sixty feet and upwards, with a 
proportionately stout stem, straight and taper; it is found 
scattered throughout the province, growing in such abundance 
in favourable soils as almost to exclude other trees. Itis also 
often seen in sandy soils, in which the moisture is retained by 
what are called “hardpans” underlying them, and preventing 
the escape of water; in such situations it grows thickly together, 
but attains no size, and dies off prematurely. This tree fur- 
nishes timber of superior quality, strong, heavy, and durable, 
answering well for railway ties, and admirably adapted for 
ship-building, for which purpose it is floated to market dressed 
on two opposite sides only. It also makes first-rate firewood 
for steamers, and is used extensively as such by those plying 
on our rivers. 
This tree, when growing singly, forms a beautiful object, 
its slender, pendulous spray adding much to its gracefulness ; 
it well deserves a place in ornamental grounds. | 
Thuja occidentalis (White Cedar; in Canada erroneously ).— 
It grows in rich, moist soils everywhere, and on the banks of 
rivers, there taking a bowed shape, and crowding together, 
frequently to the exclusion of other trees. The foliage is of a 
dark olive colour, becoming foxey in winter. The wood fur- 
nishes the best rails and posts for fencing, being almost ever- 
lasting, except the portion sunk in the ground, where it ig 
subject to slow decay. 
Juniperus communis (Juniper).—A recumbent bush spread- 
