io THE NA TURE-STUDY REVIEW [ 2 . ,-,,,„arv, , 9 



long as wide, while those of the black and red species are much 

 thicker in proportion. The red and the black species were for a long 

 time considered one, and are regarded so now by lumbermen. How- 

 ever, the botanists consider them distinct. The cones of the red 

 spruce fall during the first winter, while the cones remain upon the 

 black spruce several years, and this is the chief way of distinguishing 

 them. Birch beer is made from both the black and the red spruce, 

 and chewing gum also. The white spruce has a disagreeable odor. 

 The spruces have leaves which are four sided ; in cross section one 

 of these leaves is more nearly diamond shape than square. The 

 cones hang down instead of standing up. 



The Norway spruce is planted everywhere, and may be taken as 

 our type for study. It is common in our parks and planted grounds, 

 and is sometimes used for hedges. 



Lesson on the A T orway Spruce — What is the shape and length of the leaves? 

 How many lengthwise ridges has each leaf? Are the leaves arranged all around 

 the twigs? How in relation to the twig are the points directed? What is the 

 shape, size and color of the cone? Where on the twig is it borne? Does it 

 hang down or stand up? Figure or describe a seed. In the old trees do the 

 twigs stand out all around the branches or do they hang down? How is this 

 arrangement of the twigs on the branches useful to the tree in its native climate? 

 Do the Norway spruces when standing in the open show any bole below the 

 branches or do the branches grow to the ground? 



HEMLOCK 



There are but two species of hemlock in Eastern United States our 

 common northern species and one that is found south in the Alleghany 

 Mountains. 



The hemlock during its youth and middle age is the most graceful 

 and beautiful of all our evergreens, and in its old age it is the most 

 picturesque. There is no prettier sight in all the tree world than a 

 symmetrical, vigorous hemlock, when the new growth of vivid, light 

 green tips every twig, making exquisite contrast to the dark, dull 

 green of the older foliage. And there is no such picture of old age 

 and loneliness as the old hemlock towering above its fellow trees with 

 its upper branches bare and black extending helplessly toward the 

 four winds of heaven. It is a pity that a disease has attacked our 

 hemlocks in New York and is surely though slowly killing all that are 

 mature. It is as if they were discouraged at the wanton destruction 

 of their species by man and die rather than suffer the ignominy of the 

 axe. 



