Studies of Trees | Page 5

northern Europe where it is planted as an ornamental tree, it is usually much smaller.
[Illustration: FIG. 9.--Twig of the Norway Spruce.]
HEMLOCK (Tsuga canadensis)
Distinguishing characters: Its leaves are arranged in *flat layers*, giving a flat, horizontal
and graceful appearance to the whole branch (Fig. 8). The individual leaves are dark
green above, lighter colored below, and are *marked by two white lines on the under
side* (Fig. 10).
The leaves are arranged on little stalks, a characteristic that does not appear in the other
evergreen trees.

Form and size: A large tree with a broad-based pyramidal head, and a trunk
conspicuously tapering toward the apex. The branches extend almost to the ground.
Range: The hemlock is a northern tree, growing in Canada and the United States.
Soil and location: Grows on all sorts of soils, in the deepest woods as well as on high
mountain slopes.
Enemies: None of importance.
Value for planting: The hemlock makes an excellent hedge because it retains its lowest
branches and will stand shearing. In this respect it is preferable to the spruce. It makes a
fair tree for the lawn and is especially desirable for underplanting in woodlands, where
the shade from the surrounding trees is heavy. In this respect it is like the beech.
Commercial value: The wood is soft, brittle, and coarse-grained, and is therefore used
mainly for coarse lumber. Its bark is so rich in tannin that it forms one of the chief
commercial products of the tree.
Other characters: The fruit is a small cone about ¾ of an inch long, which generally
hangs on the tree all winter.
[Illustration: FIG. 10.--Twig of the Hemlock.]

GROUP III. THE RED CEDAR AND ARBOR-VITAE
How to tell them from other trees: The red cedar (juniper) and arbor-vitae may be told
from other trees by their leaves, which remain on the tree and keep green throughout the
entire year. These leaves differ from those of the other evergreens in being much shorter
and of a distinctive shape as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The trees themselves are much
smaller than the other evergreens enumerated in this book. Altogether, there are
thirty-five species of juniper recognized and four of arbor-vitae. The junipers are widely
distributed over the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic region down to Mexico in the
New World, and in northern Africa, China, and Japan in the Old World. The arbor-vitae
is found in northeastern and northwestern America, China, and Japan. The species
mentioned here are those commonly found in America.
How to tell them from each other: The twigs of the arbor-vitae are flat and fan-like as in
Fig. 13; the twigs of the red cedar are needle-shaped or scale-like as in Fig. 12. The
foliage of the arbor-vitae is of a lighter color than that of the red cedar, which is sombre
green. The arbor-vitae will generally be found growing in moist locations, while the red
cedar will grow in dry places as well. The arbor-vitae generally retains its lower branches
in open places, while the branches of the red cedar start at some distance from the
ground.
RED CEDAR (Juniperus virginiana)

[Illustration: FIG. 11.--The Red Cedar.]
Distinguishing characters: The tree can best be told at a glance by its general form, size
and leaves. It is a medium-sized tree with a symmetrical, cone-like form, Fig. 11, which,
however, broadens out somewhat when the tree grows old. Its color throughout the year
is dull green with a tinge of brownish red, and its bark peels in thin strips.
[Illustration: FIG. 12(a).--Twig of Young Cedar. FIG. 12(b).--Twig of Cedar (Older
Tree).]
Leaf: In young trees the leaf is needle-shaped, pointed, and marked by a white line on its
under side, Fig. 12(a). In older trees it is scale-like, Fig. 12(b), and the white line on its
under side is indistinct.
Range: Widely distributed over nearly all of eastern and central North America.
Soil and location: Grows on poor, gravelly soils as well as in rich bottom lands.
Enemies: The "cedar apple," commonly found on this tree, represents a stage of the apple
rust, and for that reason it is not desirable to plant such trees near orchards. Its wood is
also sometimes attacked by small boring insects.
Value for planting: Its characteristic slender form gives the red cedar an important place
as an ornamental tree, but its chief value lies in its commercial use.
Commercial value: The wood is durable, light, smooth and fragrant, and is therefore used
for making lead-pencils, cabinets, boxes, moth-proof chests, shingles, posts, and
telegraph poles.
Other characters: The fruit is small, round and berry-like, about the size of a pea, of dark
blue color, and carries from one to four bony seeds.
Other common names: The red cedar is also often called juniper and