TIMBER OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 83 
The western larch or tamarack (Larix occidentalis) is Uttle 
inferior to oak in strength and durabihty, grows to a height 
of 100 to ] 50 ft., and yields a timber of light brown colour 
with lighter sapwood, has a fine, slightly satiny grain, and 
is fairly free from knots ; the annual rings are distinct. It 
is very largely used for railway sleepers in Canada, also 
for planking sidewalks and footpaths in towns, and it is 
employed to a small extent in shipbuilding. 
The Common or American Larch or Black Larch 
(L. americana) is common in the northern parts of 
Manitoba ; it is a smaller tree than the western larch, 
about 80 ft. in height and 2 to 3 ft. diameter, and produces 
hard coarse-grained but strong and durable timber. It is 
valued for sleepers, telegraph poles and posts. It often 
inhabits swamps and low-lying ground, where the trees are 
smaller and the timber produced is of poorer quality. 
The American larches, like those of Europe, have straight 
and tapering stems; their timber resembles that of the 
best hard pine, both in appearance and quality and in its 
uses, and it is very durable. They grow plentifully in 
Canada and the northern parts of the States. Their 
timber is somewhat similar to, probably rather better 
than, the European larches, but it is not yet a commercial 
commodity in Great Britain, nor is it largely used in the 
United States. The tree is peculiarly liable to disease. 
Weight 34 to 42 lbs. per cubic foot. 
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), often called spruce 
or hemlock spruce, and by the French in Canada "Peruche," 
is a medium-sized tree found in the same districts as black 
spruce. It produces a coarse-grained wood, brittle, subject 
to shakes, easily split, a softish timber but rather firmer 
than white pine ; it is used as a substitute for that timber. 
It grows plentifully in New York State and Pennsylvania, 
G 2 
