FIR TREE. 



PINUS. 



CONIFER*. MON(ECIA MONADKLPHIA. 



French, sapin ; Italian, abeto. 



THE Silver Fir, Pinus picea, is a noble upright tree : 

 the branches are not very numerous, the bark is smooth ; 

 the upper surface of the leaves is of a strong fine green, 

 their under-side is marked with two white lines running 

 lengthwise on each side of the midrib, giving a silvery 

 appearance, from which this Fir takes its name. The 

 cones are large, and grow erect. It is a native of Swit- 

 zerland, Germany, Siberia, Mount Caucasus, &c. 



It has been observed in Ireland, that no tree grows 

 so speedily to so large a size as the Silver Fir. It is 

 reckoned a good timber for boat-building. A gentleman 

 in Hampshire floored his library with Silver Fir fresh 

 felled, and the boards did not contract in the least. 

 A turpentine, called the Strasburg, is obtained from this 

 tree. 



The Balm of Gilead Fir, Pinus balsamea, is a beautiful 

 tree ; some consider it the handsomest of the Firs while 

 young ; it has very much the habit of the Silver Fir ; 

 the leaves are wider and blunter, and the cones are not 

 so long. The leaves and buds are remarkably fragrant. 

 A very fine turpentine, called Canada Balsam, is obtained 

 from it, which is sold for the Balm of Gilead. 



This tree is a native of Virginia, where it grows to a 



