JANUARY. 7 



then taking place in all the trees of the wood, the alteration 

 in these is scarcely observable. 



C. Will you mention the principal of our resinous ever- 

 greens ? 



F. The white Pine (Pinus Strobus), usually called 

 by way of eminence, Pine ; the Hemlock ( P. Canadensis ) , 

 the Spruce (P. Nigra, and P. Alba), the Balsam or Fir 

 (P. Balsamea), and the Tamarack (P. Pendula). There 

 are others, but little known except to botanists. Of these 

 the pine is the most valuable, as from the ease and smooth- 

 ness with which it is worked, added to its large and straight 

 growth, it is in great request for sawing into boards. 



C. There is not much pine growing in our neighbour- 

 hood ; but I have seen some very large logs drawn out to 

 Smith's mill. Moore told me the other day that he was 

 then going in for a pine-log six feet in diameter : he had 

 three yoke of oxen attached to his sled. 



F. That must have been one of unusual size. 



C. The pine makes a prettier appearance than the 

 other species ; the diverging fascicles of leaves give it more 

 the appearance of a deciduous tree, by making the surface 

 more irregular : and it is not so conical as the others. 



F. Tastes differ : you do not then admire the conical 

 form of the evergreens ? 



C. Perhaps a prejudice against the whole genus, on 

 account of the general barrenness of the land where they 

 grow, has prevented my seeing the beauty which they really 

 possess ; though a tall and slender balsam is certainly a 

 very beautiful object. The inspired prophet considers the 

 fir an emblem of beauty ; " instead of the thorn shall come 

 up the fir tree ;" but of course it is not the same species 

 as ours. 



F. The spruce is the most valuable after the pine, for 



