1 62 FOREST TREES. 



and towns now occupy the spots where only the dark forests of Pine 

 and Hemlock, Maple and Beech once grew. The trees disappear 

 indeed before the axe and fire, from the site wl^ere Nature had placed 

 them, but they reappear now as ornaments, planted by the hand of taste 

 in the gardens, and as shade-trees on the streets of the towns and cities : 

 and this is good, it speaks of taste and culture. The Hemlock, however, 

 is less frequently seen about our dwellings, beautiful as it is, for it is 

 tardy in growth and does not take kindly to cultivation. Its natural soil 

 is dry, rocky, or gravelly land. 



A remarkable hoof-like fungus, of a deep red colour, semi-circular 

 in outline and elegantly scalloped at the edges, with curved lines like 

 some large sea shell, hard, dry, and varnished on the surface, is found 

 occassionally growing on the rough bark or big, scaly roots of decaying 

 Hemlocks. These fungi (Polyporus piiiicolo) are found in clusters of 

 larger and smaller growth on thick stems united at the base. I have 

 seen a group of these singular parasites, the largest measuring more 

 than a foot in diameter ; it was greatly prized for its elegant form and 

 rich colour. The under side of the fungus is of a fine warm buff tint. 



Nearly allied to the Hemlock is the well known 



CANADIAN Balsam Fir — Abies bahaniea, (Marsh.) 



A tall, slim, graceful tree, is this beautiful evergreen, distinguished 

 by its dark green foliage and spire-like form. Rising among the lighter 

 deciduous trees of the forest, it makes an agreeable figure by force of 

 contrast with the spreading Beech, and the full-leaved Maple and Bass- 

 wood. In wet ground the Balsam Fir runs up tall and slender, forming 

 thick groves of wand-like growth. The timber of this tree is little used, 

 except for rafters in outdoor buildings. It is the smooth, thin bark of 

 this Balsam Fir that yields the " Canadian Balsam " used in medicine. 

 The clear, resinous juice is obtained by incisions made in the bark, from 

 which It is allowed to flow into reservoirs. The tree abounds with this fluid, 

 so much so that the bright, clear, drops may be seen on the green cones, 

 sparkling like dew in the sunshine and filling the air with a pleasant 

 fragrance. 



The leaves a^e flat in single file on each side of the horizontal 

 branchlets, white underneath, the branchlet ends in three slender sprays* 

 When covered by fresh fallen snow these drooping sprays give the tree 

 the appearance of being loaded with lovely white flowers — a sight so fair, 

 few that have ever entered the forest after a snow storm can forget ; it 

 is a sight to delight the eye and lift the heart above earthly things to the 

 throne of the great Creator who has made all things so lovely here, 

 even the snow, as an emblem of His wondrous purity and Holiness. I 



