OF FOREST-TREES. 



41 



fingers, emits a powerful scent, not easily conquered, seeming to breathe cHAP. l. 

 something of a sanative ointment, and (as I am told) makes one of the ^— '-v^ 

 best for the closure of green and fresh wounds. To this we might add 

 (not for their verdure only) other more rare exotics, Styrax Arbor and 

 Terebynth ; noting, by the way, that the Larch is the only tree from 

 which the true turpentine is obtained, whilst apothecaries substitute that 

 which extils from the Fir-tree instead of it: all of them minding me 



scales are smaller, and lie closer over each other than those of the first sort. The cones are 

 also much larger, and of a heautiful gray colour ; their scales end in acute reflexed points. 



In the Linnaean system, this tree is of the class and order Monoecia Monodelphia. The 

 flowers come out early in the spring, but make a mean appearance. 



The Arbor Vitse is propagated by seeds, layers, and cuttings. The first makes the best 

 trees, though the latter methods are generally practised. 



The celebrated Professor Kalm, in his travels into North America, observes of the 

 Occidental Arbor Vitce, that it is reckoned the most durable vi'ood in Canada : " Inclosures 

 " of all kinds are made of it. AU the posts vsrhich are driven into the ground, are of the 

 " Thuya wood. The palisades round the forts in Canada are likewise made of the same 

 " wood. The planks in the houses are made of it ; and the thin narrow pieces of wood, 

 " which form both the ribs and the bottom of the bark-boats, commonly made use of here, 

 'f are taken from this wood, because it is pliant enough for the purpose, especially whilst 

 " it is fresh, and likewise because it is very light. The Thuya-wood is reckoned one 

 " of the best for the use of lime-kilns. Its branches are used aU over Canada for besoms ; 

 " and the twigs and leaves of it being naturally bent together, seem to be very proper for 

 " the purpose. The Indians make such besoms, and bring them to the towns for sale ; 

 " nor do I remember having seen besoms of any other wood. The fresh branches have 

 " a peculiar scent, which is strongly perceived in houses where they make use of besoms 

 " of this tree. 



" This Thuya is made use of for several medicinal purposes. The Commandant of Fort 

 " St. Frederick, M. de Lusignan, could never sufficiently praise its excellence for rheumatic 

 ^' pains. He told me he had often seen it tried, with remarkable success, upon several 

 'f persons, in the following manner : The fresh leaves are pounded in a mortar, and mixed 

 " with hog's grease, or any other grease. This is boiled together till it becomes a salve, 

 " which is spread on linen, and applied to the part where the pain is. The salve gives 

 " certain relief in a short time. Against violent pains, which move up and down in the 

 " thighs, and sometimes spread all over the body, they recommend the following remedy : 

 " Take of the leaves of a kind of Polypody * four-fifths, and of the cones of the Thuya 

 " one-fifth, both reduced to a coarse powder by themselves, and mixed together after- 

 ^' wards. Then pour milk- warm water on it, so as to make a poultice, which spread on 



• Polypodium fronde pinnata, pinnis alternis ad basin superne appendiculatis. 



