334 The Spruces. 



posure. It is from such localities that the best material for sound- 

 ing-boards of pianos is derived, and it would be useless to seek this 

 wood of best quality for this use in trees grown upon low swampy 

 grounds. When sawn for this purpose, the logs are first quartered, 

 and then sawn as near as may be vertically to the lines of growth. 



1353. The black spruce, when grown in dense masses, makes a 

 tall and slender tree, very strong and elastic, and well suited for 

 poles for scaffolding, flag-staffs, and the like, and for rafters and 

 sleepers in buildings. In dry situations, as hewn timber, it is strong 

 and durable, but light, and for this reason easier to place than most 

 of the hard-woods, while it surpasses the most of them in strength. 



1354. The growth of the spruce is remarkably rapid, and under 

 careful management it is much less liable to be run out by other trees 

 than most other species. A spruce forest carefully protected against 

 fires, and the cutting limited to trees that are large enough for saw- 

 ing into boards, may be cut over at intervals of ten or fifteen years 

 to great profit. The young shoots of the spruce are used iu mak- 

 ing beer ; an essential oil is distilled from the leaves, and a gum 

 having a market value exudes from the trunk. 



1355. ENGELM ANN'S SPRUCE (Picea Engelmannii). This much 

 resembles the black spruce of the Northern States and Canada, but 

 grows to greater size. It is found upon the interior plateau from 

 British Columbia southward to California, and in Montana and New 

 Mexico. Its northern and north-eastern limits are not definitely as- 

 certained. It has been found on Peace river in British America. 

 It forms a superior timber, and is very durable. 



1356. This is a tall pyramidal tree, with a thin scaly bark of a 

 reddish or purplish brown color, and white soft wood. East of the 

 Humboldt Mountains, in Nevada, and on the Wahsatch and Unita 

 Mountains, it grows to an elevation of 8,000 to 10,000 feet. In 

 these regions it is known as the " White Pine." 



1357. THE BLUE ROCK Y-MOUNTAIN SPRUCE (Picea pungens). This 

 is a Rocky Mountain species, extending from New Mexico through 

 Colorado and Utah to Idaho and Oregon. It grows to a large size, 

 and at elevations of 7,000 to 10,000 feet above tide. This is found 

 to be well adapted to the Northern and New England States, being 

 hardy, of rapid growth and of remarkable beauty of foliage, the 

 color being a bluish green. It has long been known under the 

 name of the Abies, or Picea Menziesii, but the " Meuzies Spruce" of 



