Home Nature-Study Course. 381 



the tip, and by the fact that the winter buds are protected by a coat 

 of resiii, which makes them look as if they were varnished. 



49. If you know the balsam fir, describe it? 



50. Where does Canada balsam, the clear gum in which we moimt microscopic 

 objects, come from? 



51. How does it occur on the tree? 



52. How are the leaves arranged on the twigs, that is, do they project in all 

 directions? 



53. When the tree grows in the open is the bole bare for any distance above 

 the ground? 



54. How do the trees grown in the woods differ in this respect from those in the 

 open? 



THE SPRUCES. 



In the mountains of New York State these most valuable trees 

 are common. There are three species, the white, the black and the 

 red. The black spruce is so-called because its foliage massed against 

 the mountain side looks black, whereas the white spruce is much 

 lighter in color, being grayish-green. The cones of the white spruce 

 are slender and elongated, being often more than twice as long as 

 wide, while those of the black and red species are much thicker in 

 proportion. The red and black species were for a long time consid- 

 ered one, and are regarded so now by lumbermen. However, 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 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 connnon in our parks and planted 

 grounds, and is sometimes used for hedges. 



Lesson on the Norway Spruce. 



55. What is the shape and length of the leaves? 



56. How many lengthwise ridges has each leaf? 



57. Are the leaves arranged all around the twigs? 



58. How in relation to the twig are the points directed? 



59. What is the shape, size and color of the cone? 



60. Where on the twig is it borne? Does it hang down or stand up? 



61 . Figure or describe a seed. 



62. In the old trees do the twigs stand out all around the branches or do they 

 hang down? 



