VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



161 



observation. The leaves are flat, gray on the 

 under side, with a conspicuous green mid-rib. 

 The erect cones, 2-4 inches long, stand like Christ- 

 mas candles on the upper branches. There is a 

 characteristic fragrance from the bruised leaves. 

 The balsam fir is common in the mountain forests 

 throughout the state. 



It ascends to the highest 

 summits of Mt. Mans- 

 field and Camel's Hump 

 but is there reduced to 

 a low, scrubby growth. 

 The wood is light, 

 soft and not durable. It 

 makes a medium qual- 

 ity of shingles. 



BALSAM FIR 

 Branchlet and cone, x 



%■ 



arbor vit.e ( white cedar ). Thuya occidentalis Linn. 



This is a member of the cypress family, and the only one native to 

 this latitude. It is popularly known in Vermont as the white cedar. This 

 is an unfortunate misnomer, since the true white cedar is a different tree of 



• more southern range. The arbor vitae is easily 

 recognized by its striking pyramidal habit of 

 growth and, upon closer examination, by its 

 small, scale-like leaves, in four rows, but so 

 flattened on the branchlets as to form fan-like 

 sprays. 



It occurs commonly in the northern part of 

 Vermont upon cool, moist hillsides and in 

 swamps, becoming less frequent in the southern 

 portions of the state. The bark and fibers 

 twist spirally around the axis, making a shaft 

 of great strength, and the straight slender 

 trunks are of especial value for posts and tele- 

 phone poles. Few timbers withstand decay in the soil better than the 

 arbor vitae, fence posts sometimes lasting thirty or forty years. It is 

 commonly planted for hedges and other ornamental purposes. 



arbor vit^;, x %. 



red juniper (red cedar ). Juniperus Virginiana Linn. 



Three kinds of juniper are found in the state, but this one, commonly 

 known as red cedar, is the only one which has the size and habit of a tree. 

 It occurs on dry, rocky hills, being common along the bluffs of Lake Cham- 



