EASTERN HEMLOCK
Tsuga canadensis Carr.
This species is also known as hemlock, Canadian hemlock, and white hemlock. Eastern hemlock is usually from 1 to 2 feet in diameter and from 50 to 70 feet in height, though occasionally larger trees are found. In forest stands the trunk is straight and fairly free of branches. It is found from Nova Scotia westerly to Lake Superior, south of the height of land between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay drainages, generally mixed with pine or hardwoods. The wood is light buff in colour with a reddish- brown tinge. The annual rings are quite distinct. It weighs about 29 pounds per cubic foot air-dry, is inclined to be somewhat splintery and cross-grained, and, though used to some extent in the dressed condition, is more often used for rough construction work. It is of moderate strength, though not so strong as western hemlock. It is rather difficult to season on account of its tendency to twist. Its shrinkage in seasoning is moderate, corresponding closely to that of white spruce.
Typical Uses
Bridge planks
General construction
Railway ties (treated)
Boxes and crates
Pulp
Structural timbers
WESTERN HEMLOCK
Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.
Western hemlock is sometimes called British Columbia hemlock, and hemlock. It is one of the most important woods growing in British Columbia. It frequently attains a height of 150 to 200 feet and a diameter of 3 to 4 feet, though generally it is from 20 to 30 inches in diameter. In a forest stand the trunk is straight and clear of branches for about three-quarters of its length.
Western hemlock is found from Alaska southward along the whole British Columbia coast. It is also found in the interior of British Columbia in certain areas where there is abundant rainfall. On the coast it occurs with Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, and western red cedar, and in the interior of the province with cedar, Engelmann spruce, and the true firs.
As a rule western hemlock is fine-textured and uniform. The wood is generally fairly light in colour, though not as light as spruce. Sometimes it has a pinkish to reddish—brown tinge, with little difference in colour between the sapwood and heart-wood. The wood is normally free of resin, a factor of importance for certain kinds of boxes. Western hemlock is among the heavier Canadian softwoods, its weight being about 30 pounds per cubic foot air-dry. The wood, although not so hard as Douglas fir, is considerably harder than spruce and makes a good flooring material. The grain, though not so pronounced as that of Douglas fir, is quite distinctive, and the wood is highly regarded for interior finish and decoration. It takes a good finish, holds nails and screws well, and is less inclined than is Douglas fir to split in nailing.
Although not so strong as Douglas fir, western hemlock ranks high in strength properties and can be used for many of the purposes for which Douglas fir is employed: it cannot be ranked among the more durable woods, especially in exposed situations favouring fungus attack. For ordinary purposes it is comparable with spruce in durability.
When green, it has a very high moisture content and does not season so rapidly or so easily as Douglas fir. With care, however, it can be seasoned very satisfactorily in the open air or in dry-kilns. It shrinks considerably in the process, but holds its shape quite well if properly cared for.
Typical Uses
General construction
Interior finish
Railway ties (treated)
Boxes and crates
Enamelled furniture
Kitchen cabinets
Broom handles
Flooring and ceiling Pulp