TIMBER OP THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 101 
Buttonwood or Western Plane (Platanus occidentalis), 
also known as sycamore, is plentiful along the basins of the 
Ohio and Lower Mississippi. In Canada it is confined to 
South-Western Ontario. It is quite a different tree to the 
English sycamore. One of the largest deciduous trees of 
North America, sometimes attaining a height of 100 ft., it 
produces timber of yellowish white or reddish brown colour, 
hard, stiff, strong and tough, often cross grained, difficult 
to split, which shrinks and warps a good deal ; is not con- 
sidered durable for outside work, although a good deal of 
it has been used in the States and Canada for timber 
quays, and is not much appreciated, though it is sometimes 
used for internal fittings and cabinet work, also for tobacco 
boxes and cooperage. It has broad medullary rays, and 
much of the timber has a beautiful figure. Some is sent 
to the EngHsh market cut on the quarter under the name 
" lacewood," and used for veneer and fretwork. The true 
lacewood is the produce of Daphne lagetta. A timber similar 
to the western buttonwood is obtained from the Platanus 
raceiu'.sa of California. 
Poplar and Cottonwood, of which there are several varieties, 
are classed together in the States timber trade. The poplars 
are more numerous in the northern parts of the States and 
in the south of Canada. The cottonwoods, of which there 
are several varieties {Populvs monilifera furnishes most of 
the Cottonwood of the market), are found chiefly in the 
States east and west of the Southern Mississippi. Arkansas, 
Missouri, and Louisiana provide three-quarters of the whole 
supply, which amounted in 1905 to nearly 20,000,000 cubic 
feet. The timber is generally sold as poplar or whitewood, 
sent to the EngHsh market in planks and deals, and is 
being used by many who have turned to it owing to the 
high price of wh^t^ pine. jT^he tfftihQB.isjligtitj'vefy.^eft, of 
