142 
THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 
what purpose I do not know. It has a singular appearance : 
the bark is perfectly white, not glossy or silky as the common 
Birch, but exactly like white paper, very smooth^ but not 
shining ; it readily peels in thin laminae, but does not look 
so ragged as our tree. None that I saw were of large size^, 
not more than six inches in diameter. I observed it in 
several other localities^ usually on the slope of a hill, and 
near water. 
C. — Is the timber of the birch applied to any useful 
purpose ? 
F, — It is often sawed into planks for tables, and many 
other articles of furniture, but is chiefly used as fuel^ as it 
burns readily even when green, and makes a hot fire. 
C. — Is there any difference in this respect ? 
F, — Oh, yes ; very great difference. Some woods^ such 
as elm and the evergreens, especially hemlock, will scarcely 
burn at all when green, and when they do, make a very dull 
fire, smouldering away without flame. Maple and beech 
burn intensely, the former the most readily, and with the 
most flame ; but the latter, when half consumed, gives out 
the most intense heat, though there is little difference be- 
tween these two. Birch ranks next, and then the ash, both 
white and brown : basswood and poplar can scarcely be con- 
sumed, except by gradual and slow smouldering, and that • 
with the help of other fuel. All wood burns v/ell when 
seasoned, or deprived of sap by drying. 
C. — To what purpose is the wood of the elm applied ? 
F. — When young, it is often cut and quartered ; that is, 
split through the middle into four parts, which are laid by 
to season. Few farmers have not a number of pieces of elm, 
white ash, and leverwood by them, to be brought into use 
whenever any small article is wanted^ in which hardness 
must be combined with toughness, such as axe-helves, 
wheel- spokes, &c. When grown, it is not used for any- 
