157 



The foliage of the red spruce lacks the whitish tinge of color 

 of the white spruce and the cones, which are from one inch to 

 two inches in length, are obovate in shape — that is, the 

 widest place is through the upper part of the cone, and from this 

 point it gradually tapers to the tip. They seldom persist longer 

 than the second summer. 



The leaves of all these different kinds of spruces vary greatly 

 in length, thickness and sharpness of point, according to the part 

 of the tree on which they grow, and their surroundings. The 

 shedding of the leaves on these or other spruces can be determined 

 as easily as in the Norway spruce. 



These three spruces like a cold climate and grow in many 

 sections of northern United States and Canada and farther 



48. Black spruce. Half natural size. 



south in the mountains. They are sometimes all found growing 

 together, but the black spruce likes best the damp, cold swamps, 

 while the others grow best on the drier and better drained 

 lands. The black spruce is commonest. The red spruce is 

 least known. 



Thb balsam fir. 



This is another evergreen tree which grows naturally in the 

 cold, dampgrounds of the northern United States and Canada, and 

 to some extent in the eastern states as far south as West Virginia. 



The foliage is borne in much the same manner as that of the 

 spruces ; yet there are interesting differences in the characters of 

 these two kinds of leaves. Perhaps the most noticeable difference 

 is in the shape ; and the color of the fir leaves will attract our atten- 

 tion because the under side is a silvery color, while the upper side is 

 green. What is the nature of the tip of the leaf? and how does 



