230 CONIFERS. PiNus. 



purposes. As an ornamental evergreen, the Balsam Fir has been long cultivated, both in this 

 country and in Europe. The Pinus Fraseri of Pursh, which is nearly allied to this species, 

 and is by many botanists regarded as only a variety of it, grows in Vermont, and probably 

 also on the mountains of Essex county, but I did not observe it when I explored that region. 



»*♦ PicEA, Link. Sterile aments scattered towards the extremity of the branches. Cells of the aiUhers opening longitudinally. 

 Cones scattered, pendant. Bracts very small at maturity : scales not thickened at the tip, ligneous, smooth, persistent. 

 Leaves evergreen, solitary, more or less Zranked. 



6. PiNU3 Canadensis, Linn. Hemlock Spruce. 



Leaves distichous, solitary, flat, obtuse, minutely denticulate towards the apex ; cones 

 eUiptical-ovoid, a little longer than the leaves. — Linn. sp. (ed. 2.) 2. p. 1421 ; Lamb. Pin. t. 45 ; 

 Pursh,fl.2.p.6^0; Ell. sk. 2. p. 639; Bigel.Jl. Bost. p. 360; B eck, hot. p. 3i0; Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 548. Pinus- Abies Canadensis, Marsh, arb. Amer. p. 103. Abies Canadensis, 

 Michx. fl. 2. p. 207 ; Michx.f. sylv. 2. t. 149 ; Loud. enc. tr. <^ shr. p. 1035. 



A large tree : in favorable situations, rising to the height of 60 - 80 feet, with a trunk 

 2-3 feet or more in diameter ; the branches widely spreading, and horizontal or pendulous. 

 Leaves distinctly 2-ranked, about half an inch long and scarcely a line wide, more or less 

 distinctly serrulate towards the point. Sterile aments globose, about the size of a peppei'corn, 

 on short stalks which are surrounded at the base by brownish scales. Cones about three- 

 fourths of an inch long, consisting of a few closely imbricated rather thin roundish scales, 

 scattered towards the extremity of the branches. Seed (including the wing) three-fourths 

 the length of the scale. 



Woods, particularly on the sides of mountains, and along the rocky banks of streams : found 

 in all parts of the State, but most abundant and of the greatest size in the northern coun- 

 ties. Large quantities of it occur on the Catskill mountains, where its bark is employed 

 in numerous tanneries. The wood of the Hemlock is soft, coarse grained, and possesses 

 little strength, but is durable if protected from the weather. It is much used fqr joists, in 

 building houses. The bark is inferior to that of oak for tanning, but it makes excellent 

 leather. 



7. Pinus nigra, Ait. Black or Double Spruce. 



Leaves solitary, scattered all around the branches, erect, short, somewhat quadrangular, 

 entire ; cones ovoid, the scales somewhat undulated, crenulated or toothed at the apex. — 

 Ait. Kew. (ed. 1.) 3. p. 370 ; Lamb. Pin. t. 27 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 640 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 640 ; 

 Bigel.fl. Bost. p. 360 ; Beck, bot.p. 340 ; Hook.fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 163. Abies denticulata, 

 Michx. fl. 2. p. 206. A. nigra, Poir. diet. 6. p. 520 ; Michx. f. sylv, 2. t. 147 ; Loud. enc. 

 tr. ^shr.p. 1031. 



