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
_red juniper_.

Comparisons: The red cedar is apt to be confused with the _low juniper_
(_Juniperus communis_) which grows in open fields all over the
world. The latter, however, is generally of a low form with a flat
top. Its leaves are pointed and prickly, never scale-like, and they
are whitish above and green below. Its bark shreds and its fruit is
a small round berry of agreeable aromatic odor.

ARBOR-VITAE; NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR (_Thuja occidentalis_)

Distinguishing characters: The *branchlets* are extremely *flat and
fan-like*, Fig. 13, and have an agreeable _aromatic odor_ when
bruised. The tree is an evergreen with a _narrow conical form_.

[Illustration: FIG. 13.--Twig of the Arbor-vitae.]

Leaf: Leaves of two kinds, one scale-like and flat, the other keeled,
all tightly pressed to the twig (see Fig. 13).

Form and size: A close, conical head with dense foliage near the base.
Usually a small tree, but in some parts of the northeastern States
it grows to medium size with a diameter of two feet.

Range: Northern part of North America.

Soil and location: Inhabits low, swampy lands; in the State of Maine
often forming thick forests.

Enemies: Very seldom affected by insects.

Value for planting: Is hardy in New England, where it is especially used
for hedges. It is also frequently used as a specimen tree on the
lawn.

Commercial value: The wood is durable for posts, ties, and shingles. The
bark contains considerable tannin and the juices from the tree have
a medicinal value.

Other characters: The _fruit_ is a cone about 1/2 inch long.

Other common names: Arbor-vitae is sometimes called _white cedar_ and
_cedar_.

Comparisons: The arbor-vitae is apt to be confused with the true _white
cedar_ (_Chamaecyparis thyoides_) but the leaves of the latter are
sharp-pointed and not flattened or fan-shaped.

CHAPTER II

HOW TO IDENTIFY TREES--(Continued)

GROUP IV. THE LARCH AND CYPRESS

How to tell them from other trees: In summer the larch and cypress may
easily be told from other tree