THE PINE SUB-FAMILY. 163 



trees is its great value for shelter, for which we have al- 

 ready advocated it in our chapter devoted to Hedges and 

 Screens. A thickly planted belt of these trees on the north 

 side of an orchard, or of young plantations of ornamen- 

 tal trees, or even of the house and farm buildings, proves 

 an effectual barrier to the high, cold winds that frequently 

 come from that quarter and destroy our fruit crop, or our 

 half-hardy plants, as well as increase our bills for fuel dur- 

 ing the winter months. 



On the Western prairies pomologists are awakening to 

 a just sense of this important subject, and of all the hardy 

 evergreens this appears to be the most suitable for shelter. 

 Dense and compact in its growth, hardy to the utmost de- 

 gree, and vigorous in almost every soil, it is certainly the 

 perfection of plants for a screen. These clumps and belts 

 may by a judicious planting create quite a pleasing effect, 

 and instead of appearing as a work of art, as when planted 

 in a formal line or avenue, they may be placed in such a 

 manner as to preserve a graceful, easy, flowing outline. 



For enclosures or divisions to ornamental grounds where 

 animals are excluded, it forms a beautiful hedge, bearing 

 the shears with impunity, becoming very dense, and re- 

 taining that peculiar dark green color so universally ad- 

 mired. We are now experimenting with almost every 

 plant that is at all available for this purpose, and on a 

 short trial are decidedly of the opinion that the Norway 

 Spruce will prove the most useful, especially where a large 

 sheltering hedge or screen is required. 



The timber furnished by this species is quite valuable, 

 and plantations in many parts of Europe are annually be- 

 ing formed for growing it. The wood is almost devoid 

 of resin, light, white, and quite elastic. It is termed 

 White Deal, and is used in many portions of Europe as 

 the White Pine is with us. The bark is also valuable for 

 tanning, and the resin that exudes from under the bark is 

 consumed for common purposes. 



