Forest Trees and Shrubs of Meriden, Conn. 49 



satiny, sometimes reddish, although often nearly white. Used for 

 piles, posts, railway ties, etc Essence of Spruce, prepared by boil- 

 ing the young branches, is used in the manufacture of spruce beer. 

 Specific gravity, 0.4584; ash, 0.27. 



6. ABIES BALSAMEA. v Marshall.) 



Balsam Fir. Balm of Gilead Fir. 



A quick-growing but short-lived tree, usually growing thirty to 

 forty feet high, but sometimes sixty to seventy. Wood very light, 

 soft, not strong, coarse-grained, compact, not durable, and but of 

 little value. "Canada Balsam," or Balm of Fir, an aromatic 

 liquid, also resin obtained from the tree by puncturing the vesicles 

 found under the bark of the stem and branches, is used medicinally 

 and in the arts. Specific gravity, 0.3819; ash, 0.45. 



7. LARIX AMERICANA. (Michaux.) 



American Larch. Black Larch. Tamarack. Hackma- 

 tack. 



This is inferior to the European Larch (Z. Europea). It is a 

 slender tree, from twenty to fifty feet in height, although some- 

 times reaching a height of a hundred feet, with stem two feet in 

 diameter. Wood heavy, hard, very strong, rather coarse-grained, 

 compact and durable. Used in posts and fencing. Much atten- 

 tion is given in Europe to its cultivation, and it might be advan- 

 tageously planted here on unproductive land. The inner bark is 

 recommended in the treatment of chronic affections of the pulmo- 

 nary and urinary passages. Specific gravity, 0.6236; ash, 0.33. 



Section II. THE CYPRESS TRIBE. 



8. THUJA OCCIDENTALIS. (Tournefort.) 



White Cedar. Arbor-Vitae. 



Usually a small tree, growing to the height of thirty to fifty feet. 

 Not common in Meriden. There are many varieties in cultivation, 

 some exceedingly dwarf, others tall and quite slender. Wood very 

 light, soft, not strong, brittle, rather coarse-grained, compact and 

 durable near the soil. Used for posts, fencing, railway ties and 

 shingles. The distilled oil and a tincture of the leaves have been 

 found useful in the treatment of pulmonary and uterine complaints. 

 Specific gravity, 0.3164; ash, 0.37. 



