THE BALSAM FIR 



IT is probably on account of the interesting psychological fact of the curious associa- 

 tion of the sense of smell with the memory of former experiences that the Balsam 

 Fir holds a unique position among the evergreens in the minds of most people who 

 have lived for a time in the region where it grows. The delightful odor of the leaves is 

 sure to recall to these fortunate ones, experiences of outings in the forests or of balsam 

 pillows carried to village or city homes. The odor certainly is one of the most refreshing 

 fragrances in Nature's pharmacy, and it seems fitting that the tree should also furnish, 

 through the unique reservoirs that stand out on the bark of the trunk and larger branches, 

 an abundant supply of one of the most potent medicines for the ills of throat and lungs. 

 This clear balsam is often used as medicine directly from the tree in the regions where it 

 grows. It is also largely used in preserving microscopic preparations and for various other 

 purposes. 



The Balsam Fir may generally be distinguished at the first glance by the flattened 

 appearance of the horizontal branches, an appearance which is due to the usually hori- 

 zontal position of the leaves, the upper surfaces of which are a bright, clear, green color 

 while the under surfaces are bluish green. The young shoots have the reddish-brown 

 bark clothed with stiff brown hairs. The reddish-brown buds have the scales covered by 

 a transparent, shining varnish. In addition to their balsamic odor the leaves have a dis- 

 tinct aromatic taste. As is well shown on the plate, the rather large cones project upward 

 from the smaller branches. These cones are generally about four inches long by one inch 

 in diameter and have scales with rounded margins. 



The Balsam Fir is essentially a tree of the great northern forests, ranging as far 

 south as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota, and along the higher slopes of the mount- 

 ains to Virginia. It is a beautiful tree for ornamental planting in the regions where it is 

 found as a native, but farther south it is not so likely to thrive. 



At least eight other species of Firs are found in North America. Most of these are 

 native to the far West, but one, Fraser's Fir (Abies Fraseri), is found well up along the 

 Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. It is generally a low 

 tree, rarely reaching a height of seventy feet even in its native home, and has little 

 value for landscape planting. The other species are commonly called White Firs, Red 

 Firs or Silver Firs. Several of them have been utilized for ornamental planting in Europe. 



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