88 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



inch at the ground ; giving an average growth of more than 

 half an inch in diameter a year. The balsam fir is found, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Richardson, in Canada and Nova Scotia to the 

 Saskatchawan. 



A mass of crowded branches, with minute, altered leaves, is 

 sometimes found on the fir, similar to what will be hereafter 

 spoken of as occurring on the red cedar. 



The European silver fir, (the abies pulcherrima of Virgil), so 

 similar and so superior to the balsam fir, and which sometimes 

 attains to a height of one hundred or one hundred and fifty feet 

 and even more, grows with great vigor in our gardens and nur- 

 series, and wherever else it has been tried. It is an inhabitant 

 of the mountains of the south of Europe. The Norway spruce 

 seems equally well adapted to our soil and climate. It. is the 

 loftiest tree of Europe, and every way worthy of cultivation 

 here. In Winship's nurseries, where it has been introduced a 

 few years, it outstrips our native spruces. But still more re- 

 markable and desirable trees of this genus, are found on the 

 western side of the continent, within the limits of the territory 

 of the United States. Such is the tree called Douglas's Spruce 

 Fir, (A Douglasii,) from the name of the person who intro- 

 duced it into England. In its native forests, it varies from two 

 to ten feet in diameter, and from one hundred to one hundred 

 and eighty feet in height ; and a stump is mentioned as still 

 found on the Columbia River, which measures forty-eight feet 

 in circumference at three feet from the ground, exclusive of its 

 very thick bark. 



Sp. 2. The Double Balsam Fir. P. Fraseri Pursh. 



Figured in Lambert's Pinus ; Plate 42. 



This tree has so strong a resemblance to the common fir, that 

 it is difficult, except by the cones, to distinguish them. They 

 have the same habit, the same kind of bark, and grow in similar 

 situations. The double fir has its leaves usually much more 

 crowded, whence probably its name. It is not often, how- 

 ever, by the common people, distinguished. The mature cone 



