186 
ANNALS OF THE 
Pinus Strobus (White Pioe). — This pine is the most magnificent, and at the 
same time the most useful, of all our Canadian trees. It grows scattered through- 
out the province, preferring richer soil than do the pines already mentioned ; the 
quality of the soil causing it to be social or gregarious. The timber of the white 
pine furnishes by far the greatest article of exportation the produce of our forests 
affords. It is taken to market in the shape of square timber, of all sizes, from 12 
inches to double that dimension, and in lengths from 20 to 60 feet, and more. Lar- 
ger sizes are partially squared, to be afterwards wrought into masts and bowsprits, 
for which purpose it is admirably fitted, by reason of its lightness and strength. 
Large quantities are also floated to the many saw mills scattered about the province, 
to be cut into planks and boards, principally for exportation, finding outlets from 
Quebec to Britain and Ireland, and by railroads and sailing craft to the neighboring 
states. This pine is exclusively used in the province for carpentry and joiner's work 
for our buildings, being well adapted to all the purposes of house-building, easily 
worked, and generally free of knots. While this tree is the most useful and the 
largest product of our forests, it is the most picturesque of all those we possess, 
when growing in places where it has room to expand its massive branches from the 
ground upwards, densely clothed with foliage, and broken into great masses of light 
and shade, which the painter delights to contemplate. This tree is seen raising its 
head above all the other denizens of the forest, frequently attaining a height of 120 
feet and upwards. 
Finns serolina (Pond Pine) — Dr Gray ignores this species, probably referring 
it to P. rigida as a variety merely, though he does not say so ; other authors make 
it a distinct species. On the authority of Pursh, it is here adopted as a native of 
Canada. The latter botanist found it at Anticosti, on the occasion of his visiting 
that island in 1817. As this is a southern species, its having established itself on 
that northern island is a singular circumstance ; yet Pursh was well acquainted with 
the pines of America, and could scarcely have been mistaken. On the same occasion 
he brought back, in the shape of dried specimens, as well as in a living state, many 
plants which seem peculiar to the island. 
Assuming the existence of this pine in Anticosti, we possess five species in Ca- 
nada. 
Abies halsamea (Balsam Spruce). — This tree grows sparingly throughout the 
province, on dry and rocky soils, in the company of the white and black spruce. 
It grows very symmetrically to the height of about 30 to 40 feet, spreading its 
branches around the stem, from the ground upwards, in regular tiers, forming a ta- 
pering pyramid. It is much grown as an ornamental tree, especially in the south, 
where it is a favorite object for lawns and plantations. The well-known Canada 
Balsam is the produce of this tree, showing itself in blisters between the wood and 
the hark. The timber is soft, and of little practical utility, except for fence rails 
