Chap. 7. 



BOTANY OF VERMONT. 



217 



THE BALSAM FIR. 



THK HEMLOCK. THE LARCH. 



THE MOONTAIN ASH. 



THE SILVER, OR BALSAM FIR. 



Pinus balsamea. 

 Tlie fir tree flourishes best in a cold, 

 moist, sandy loam, and hence it is most 

 commonly found growing on the north 

 side of our mountains and about the mar- 

 gin of cold springy swamps. It sozne- 

 times, though rarely, reaches 50 feet in 

 height, and its diameter seldom exceeds 

 12 or 15 inches. Where this tree stands 

 alone, and developes itself naturally, its 

 branches, which are numerous and thick- 

 ly garnished witii leaves, diminisli iu 

 length in proportion to their height, and 

 thus form a round pyramid or cone of re- 

 markable regularity and beauty. The 

 wood is very white, but its texture is 

 coarse and open. It is sometimes used 

 for staves in making casks,, and answers 

 ■well for dry casks, but is not so good for 

 holding liquids. It is also sawn into 

 boards for making boxes, and is used lor 

 rafters, joists, &c., in frames. The bal- 

 sam, for which this tree is somewhat cel- 

 ebrated, is obtained from the blisters or 

 tumors on the bark. It may be collected 

 with considerable facilij;y with a teaspoon. 

 For this purpose an incision is made in 

 the lower part of the blister with the 

 point of the spoon, and the pressure re- 

 quired in the operation causes the balsam 

 to flow into the spoon, from which it is 

 transferred to phials. The balsam is near- 

 ly colorless, has the consistency of honey, 

 and is of an acrid penetrating taste. It is 

 commonly known in this state by the 

 name ofjir balsam, but is said to be sold 

 in many places abroad under the improp- 

 er name of Balm of Gilcad. It is of some 

 Celebrity as a medicine, particularly in 

 pulmonary complaints and sprains of the 

 chest and stomach, for which it is taken, a 

 few drops at a time, internally. It is also 

 in repute for its healing properties when 

 applied to external wounds and sores. 



THE HEMLOCK. 



Pinus Canadensis. 

 The Hemlock is found in all parts of 

 the state, and in most parts in abundance. 

 It flourishes best in a sandy l<!)am at the 

 foot of hills and on lands slightly inclin- 

 ing. In such situations the trees are of- 

 ten from three to four feet in diameter. 

 Ft. I. 2d 



The size of the body of this tree is nearly 

 uniform for about two thirds of its length. 

 In very old trees the large limbs are of- 

 ten broken oft' four or five feet from the 

 trunk by the weight of the snows lodged 

 upon them, giving to the trees a decrepid 

 and unsightly aspect. The wood of this 

 tree, though abundant, is unfortunately 

 coarse grained, and inferior to most of the 

 other evergreens for architectural purpo- 

 ses. It is, iiowever, extensively used for 

 frames and joists of buildings, for the tim- 

 bers and planks of bridges, for the floors 

 of barns, for lining boards, lath boards, 

 &c. The logs are used for building dams, 

 wharves and breakwaters, and they are 

 bored and much used for aqueducts. The 

 bark of the hemlock is extensively used 

 in Vermont in tanning leather. 



AMERICAN LARCH. 

 Pinus pendula. 

 This tree is generally known in Ver- 

 mont by the name of TamaracI:, but is 

 sometimes called Larch, and sometimes 

 Hackmatack. It seems to delight in a 

 cold wet soil, and in this state it is most 

 commonly met with in cold swamps. In 

 the southern and eastern part of the state 

 this tree is extremely rare, but in the wes- 

 tern and northern parts it is m\ich more 

 common, and in some swamps is found in 

 considerable quantities. A short distance 

 further north, in Canada, it becomes still 

 more abundant. With us this tree sel- 

 dom exceeds 80 or 100 feet in height,with 

 a diameter of about 2 feet ; but to the 

 north it attains a greater magnitude, and 

 in the neighborhood of Hudson's Bay it 

 is said to emulate our white pine, rising 

 to the height of nearly 200 feet. This tree 

 sheds its leaves in autumn, though its ap- 

 pearance in summer might lead one to 

 suppose it to be an evergreen. The wood 

 is strong and durable, and makes valua- 

 ble timber for frames of buildings. It is 

 also used for posts in fences, and for 

 staves of dry casks. AlthougJi it snaps 

 considerably, it is much superior to the 

 evergreens for fuel. 



MOUNTAIN ASH,orMOOSEMISSA. 



Surbus .Americana. 



This beautiful little tree is very com 



