240 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



matter that is got from another kind of 

 spruce, — that called the balm of Gilead ; but 

 when they cannot get that, they use the tur- 

 pentine of the white spruce itself, which an- 

 swers the purpose very well." 



" Then the white spruce is not a useless 

 tree, Uncle Philip." 



" Oh no ; very far from it ; although the 

 wood is none of the best. 



"The hemlock spruce, like all the other 

 kinds, flourishes only in cold climates, and is 

 seldom found even as far south as New- York. 

 It is a large tree, and grows slowly ; the 

 leaves are short and flat, very dark green, and 

 only grow in two ranks ; that is, one on each 

 side of the branches : the cones are very 

 small, about as large as the first joint of my 

 little finger, and sharp-pointed. The wood 

 of the hemlock is inferior to both the black and 

 the white, but still it is considerably used where 

 white pine is scarce ; its greatest fault is in not 

 splitting in straight lines, but always crooked ; 

 its most general use is for flooring. But still 

 the hemlock is a very useful tree, on account 

 of its bark, which is good for tanning." 



" Is it better than oak-bark, Uncle Philip 7" 



