I2 4 



Trees, Stars, and Birds 



nence because of the large amounts of it needed for 

 the manufacture of airplanes. Much of the paper used 

 in books and newspapers is made of spruce wood. 



Firs. Different species of pine and spruce are often 

 called " firs " ; but the name " fir " is properly applied 

 to evergreens that resemble spruces in general appear- 

 ance, but have erect instead of drooping cones, and 

 leaves that are not jointed at the base. The only true 

 fir native to the northeastern part of the United States 

 is the balsam fir, which grows also over much of Canada 

 and in the mountains as far south as Virginia. 



The leaves on this fir are blunt and flat, and not four- 

 sided like those of a spruce. On the horizontal branches 

 they appear to be two-ranked instead of standing out all 



around the branch, as 

 do the leaves of the 

 spruce. Persons camp- 

 ing where fir trees are 

 growing often make a 

 bed of the boughs ; but 

 they avoid the spruce 

 because its leaves 

 (needles) are sharp and 

 stand out all around 

 the stem. The leaves 

 of the fir last a long 

 time ; if undisturbed, 

 they persist on the tree 

 for 8 years. 



U. S. Forest Service , , ~ 



Alpine fir, Blackfeet National Y UI1 g balsam ^ 



Forest, Montana. and Norway spruces 



FIG. 81. 



