DENDROLOGY. 



95 



American Silver Fir. Abies balsamifera. 



PLATE III. 

 Fig. 1. A branch with a cone. 



Fig. 2. A seed. 



The coldest regions of 

 North America are the native 

 country of this species of 

 spruce. In the United States, 

 Canada and Nova Scotia, it 

 is called Silver Fir, Fir 

 IB ah am, and Balsam of Gil- 

 ead. It does not constitute 

 masses of woods, but is 

 disseminated, in a greater or 

 less abundance, among the 

 hemlock and black spruces. 

 Farther south it is found only 

 on the summit of the Alle- 

 ghanies, and particularly on 

 the highest mountains of 

 North Carolina. Like the 

 other spruces it generally flourishes best in a moist sandy loam. 

 Its height rarely exceeds 40 feet, with a diameter of 12 or 15 

 inches. The trunk tapers from a foot in diameter at the surface 

 of the ground to 7 or 8 inches, at the height of 6 feet. When 

 standing alone and developing itself naturally, its branches, which 

 are numerous and thickly garnished with leaves, diminish in length 

 in proportion to their height, and form a pyramid of perfect 

 regularity. The bark is smooth and delicate. The leaves are 

 6 or 8 lines long, and are inserted singly on the sides and on the 

 top of the branches ; they are narrow, rigid and flat, of a bright 

 green above and a silvery white beneath ; whence probably is 

 derived the name of the tree. It flowers in May, and is followed 

 by cones of a fragrant odor, which are nearly cylindrical, 4 or 5 

 inches long, an inch in diameter, and always directed upwards. 

 The seeds are ripe in autumn, and if permitted to hang late will 

 fall apart and scatter themselves. 



The wood of the silver fir is light and slightly resinous, and 

 the heart is yellowish. It is sometimes used for the staves o( 















