282 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



In addition to this capacity of their wood for meet- 

 ing an emergency, the cone-bearers have another 

 peculiarity which helps them to survive misfortune. 



For in all our native evergreens except the 

 yew, the wood contains a quantity of resin. In 

 the living tree this resin is held in solution in oil 

 of turpentine, and the two together make a clear, 

 sticky fluid known as " balsam." In the larch, 

 pine, and fir there are little wells of it in the 

 trunk and branches, and sometimes even in the 

 leaves. The balsam of the fir is so abundant and 

 adhesive that the Canadians and Indians made use 

 of it for tightening the seams of their canoes. 



"Give me of your balm, O fir-tree," 

 cries Hiawatha, 



" Of your balsam and your resin, 

 So to close the seams together, 

 That the water may not enter. 

 And the fir-tree, tall and sombre, 

 Sobbed through all its robes of darkness, 

 Take my balm, O Hiawatha." 



The balsam pours out wherever the wood is 

 wounded, and, by exposure to air and sun, it 

 stiffens and forms a plaster for the torn tissues. 

 This preserves the life of the wood, which, if left 

 unprotected, would soon have all its vital juices 

 dried away. 



