34 FOREST-TREES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Mountains, This species is found on the higher parts of the Rocky 

 Mountains, from New Mexico to the headwaters of the Columbia and 

 Missouri Rivers. In Colorado, it occupies a belt between 8,000 and 12,000 

 feet, reaching its fullest development between 9,000 and 10,000 feet. On 

 the highest summits, it becomes a prostrate shrub. Mr. Ward, writing 

 of the tree in Utah, says: " Between 9,000 and 10,000 feet altitude, it 

 becomes a large and noble tree, and is of the greatest value for lumber, 

 taking the place in that region of the White Pine of the Eastern States, 

 and is alone known by that name among lumbermen. The wood is 

 white, very light, and easily worked, and at the same time durable." 

 Botanically, it is difficult to distinguish it from some forms of A. Menziesii. 



No. 380. Abies balsamea, Marshall. Balsam. New England to Wis- 

 consin. This species grows in cold, damp woods and swamps, from New 

 England to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and northward. It is also a native 

 of Canada and Nova Scotia. It generally grows about 20 to 40 feet 

 high. It is a very popular ornamental tree. " A very aromatic liquid 

 resin is obtained from this tree by incisions made in the bark, and is 

 called Canada Balsam." 



No. 381. Abies sub-alpina^ Eng. Sub-alpine Balsam. Rocky Mount- 

 ains. This is one of the tallest and handsomest firs of the Rocky 

 Mountains, often attaining a height of 80 or 90 feet ; perfectly straight, 

 and without limbs for a great distance. The wood is white, soft, and of 

 little value for lumber. It is known among the lumbermen of the 

 Wasatch Mountains as White Balsam, or Pumpkin-tree. Its nearest 

 affinity is to A. balsamea of the Eastern States. It reaches to great alti- 

 tudes, being sometimes found near the timber-line. It has often been 

 collected, and generally referred to A. grandis, the incorrectness of which 

 has been but lately pointed out by Dr. Engelmann, who has proposed 

 for it the name given above. (Ward.) 



No. 382. Abies grandis, Lind. White Silver Fir. California and Ore- 

 gon. This name is here applied to the tree of the Pacific coast. " In 

 Oregon," Mr. Dufur says, " it grows on the low, moist land, along the 

 small streams emptying into the Columbia River. Is seldom found at an 

 elevation of more than 500 feet, and never on sandy or gravelly ridges. 

 It attains a size of from 2 to 4 feet in diameter, and 200 feet in height. 

 It has a light-colored, thin, smooth bark. It is a rapid grower, and the 

 timber decays correspondingly fast when exposed to the wet. The wood 

 is white, free, and soft, but too light and brittle for general building 

 purposes. It is used extensively by the settlers for clapboards, boxes, 

 and cooperage." 



No. 383. Abies concolor, Eiig. White Silver Fir. Rocky Mountains. 

 In the Wasatch Mountains in Utah this tree is very valuable for lumber, 

 and is called Black Balsam. It is there a large tree, sometimes 3 or 4 

 feet in diameter and 40 to 50 feet high. The wood is tough and coarse- 

 grained, adapting it for building purposes and all substantial uses. It 

 ranges from 8,000 to 9,000 feet in altitude. (Ward.) In Southern Utah, 

 it is sometimes called Black Gum. 



No. 384. Abies amabilis, Dougl. Red Silver Fir. California and 

 Oregon. Mr. Lemrnon states, " On the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it 

 forms dense, scattered groves, at altitudes of 7,000 to 10,000 feet. 

 The largest trees are 250 feet high and 6 to 10 feet in diameter. A truly 

 beautiful and magnificent tree, sometimes called the Queen of the For- 

 est." Mr. Dufur says it is found extensively along the western slope of 

 the Cascade Mountains, on sandy, gravelly, rocky, and dry elevations. 

 Its usual size is from 150 to 200 feet in height, and from 1 to 4 feet in 

 diameter. The wood is rather coarse, but elastic, strong, and hard. It 



