256 LANDSCA1E GARDENING. 



THE FIR TREES. Abies. 

 ??at Ord. Coniferse. Lin. Syst. Monoec:'a, Monadelphia. 



The Fir trees differ from the Pines, to which they are 

 nearly related, in having much shorter leaves, which are 

 placed singly upon the branches, instead of being collected 

 in little bundles or parcels of two, three, or five, as is the 

 case in all Pines. They generally grow in a more conical 

 manner than the latter, and in ornamental plantations owe 

 their beauty in most cases more to their symmetrical 

 regularity of growth than to picturesque expression. 



The Balsam, or Balm of Gilead Fir (A. balsamea), 

 sometimes also called the American Silver Fir, is one of 

 the most ornamental of our native evergreens. It is found 

 most abundantly in Maine and Nova Scotia, but is 

 scattered more or less on the mountain tops, and in cold 

 swamps, through various other parts of the Union. At 

 Pine Orchard, near the Catskill Mountain-house, it 

 flourishes well, though never seen below the elevation of 

 1,800 feet. When standing singly, it forms a perfect 

 pyramid of fine dark green foliage, 30 or 40 feet high, 

 regularly clothed from the bottom to the top. The leaves, 

 about half or three-fourths of an inch long, are silvery 

 white on the under surface, though dark green above ; and 

 are inserted both on the sides and tops of the branches. It 

 is one of the most beautiful evergreens for planting in 

 grounds near the house, arid is perhaps more cultivated for 

 that purpose than any other in the Union. The cones, 

 which are four or five inches long, like those of the 

 European Silver Fir point upwards. However small the 

 plants of this Fir may be, they are still interesting, as they 



