burt] the balsam fir 31 



conifers when they can get other things. LandsUdes, floods and 

 fungi also, all play their part in destro^nng our forests and insects 

 are quite as likely to attack conifers as deciduous trees — in 1876 

 all the spruces in the Adirondacks were nearly killed by insects. 

 Snow often does great harm, and slim, tall trees suffer more than 

 those whose growth in diameter and height have kept better pace 

 with each other. Of all the foes which attack the woodlands of 

 North America, no other is more terrible than fire. It does more 

 damage in the shortest length of time than any other one thing, and 

 so often could it be avoided with a little thought on the part of the 

 hunter, or camper. I have seen whole mountains in one blazing 

 mass, with the wind tearing the fire along at such a speed, it 

 seemed as if it would go on forever. In such cases all the male 

 inhabitants from nimierous towns around would be fighting the 

 fire, in both a night and day shifts. The most effective means of 

 fighting the fire is to confine it by digging trenches on all sides 

 which it can't get across. 



Of all the wonderful aspects which our trees assume, I can con- 

 ceive of nothing more solemn and impressive than the fir tree in 

 moonlight ; although it never attains an altitude of more than 45 

 ft, it certainly reveals in the light of the moon, a figure of vague and 

 stately proportions. 



And who wonders that this "never fading evergreen" is often 

 taken from its cold mountain region and planted as shade trees 

 around farm houses, in village yards and parks? 



"Yon household fir, 

 A guardian planted to fence off the beast, 

 But towering high the roof above, as if 

 Its humble destination were forgot." 



— Wordsworth. 



