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WHITE SPRUCE (Picea canadensis) 
The White spruce is an important commercial tree over 
the northern interior of British Columbia, where it makes the 
best lumber and timber available in those cold northern 
regions. It forms a fairly well-grown tree from two to three 
feet in diameter where the conditions are favorable. It grows 
on river banks and on low moist areas. It is abundant in the 
Yukon river valley. It does not occur on the coast. 
MAPLE (Acer macrophyllum) 
This is the only large maple tree on the coast. It is one of 
the most valuable hard- woods found in the Province. Under 
the most favorable conditions, it reaches five feet in diameter 
and 120 feet in height ; but is usually about two feet in 
diameter. 
It grows along the banks and bottom lands of most of the 
streams, on the island and west coast of the mainland, and is 
usually associated with Cedar, Spruce, Grand Fir, Alder and 
Hemlock. 
Although a valuable wood, it must not be considered as 
of any special importance on account of its very limited extent. 
It thrives best on rich bottom lands, with considerable mois- 
ture. It is a fairly rapid grower — trees 12 inches in diameter 
are about 50 years old, and two feet in diameter about 100 
years of age. 
RED ALDER (Alnus rubra) 
This alder grows to a fairly large tree, occasionally reach- 
ing three feet in diameter, but usually about a foot in diameter. 
It is the finest wood we possess for making charcoal, especially 
charcoal for gunpowder. 
It has a certain value for cabinet work, and makes very 
good firewood. Like the maple, it grows on the rich bottom 
and wet bench lands. It is frequently found in small patches 
on springy side-hills. Alder is a rapid grower, reaching eight 
inches in diameter in 25 years. 
