84 
RURAL HOURS. 
right growth from the first, betraying their ambition to become 
trees as early as possible. The usual verdure of the hemlock is 
very dark and glossy, lying in double rows flat upon the branches. 
The younger spray often liangs in loose drooping tufts, and the 
whole tree is more or less sprinkled with pretty little cones which 
are very ornamental. As the hemlock growls older, it becomes 
often irregular, dead limbs projecting here and there, well hung 
with long drooping lichens of light green, which give it a vener- 
able aspect. Altogether it is the most mossy tree we have. 
Some of the hemlocks have a much closer and more compressed 
upright growth than those commonly met with ; so that one is 
almost tempted to believe there are two distinct varieties. Near 
the Red Brook, there is a young wood of these close-growing 
hemlocks, all having the same character ; but I believe it only 
accidental. Occasionally, but much more rarely, the same thing 
is seen among the pines. 
The hemlock is chiefly used here for tanning, the bark being 
often stripped off" from fine trees, which are then left to decay 
standing. The timber is sometimes used for joists. Since the 
custom of making plank roads has commenced, the farmers arc 
beginning to look with more favor upon their hemlock-trees, as 
this is the only wood used for the purpose, wherever it can be 
procured. A vast amount of hemlock timber must have already 
been worked up for our highways, and for paving village side- 
walks ; and probably all that is left will soon be appropriated to 
the same purposes. Trees, sixteen inches in diameter, are now 
selling in om^ neighborhood for a dollar a-piece standing, when 
taken by the hundred. Pine-trees, standing, sell for five dollars, 
although they often produce forty dollars worth of Imuber. Ilie 
