156 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



1. Abies, SPRUCE. Leaves 4-sided, mostly scattered 

 all around the branches. Anther cells opening lengthwise. 

 Cones nodding or pendent, solitary, terminal, \vith persist- 

 ent, scales. Seeds without balsamiferous vesicles, parting 

 freely from the wing. 



2. Tsuga, HEMLOCK SPRUCE. Leaves, flat, petioled, 

 appearing two-ranked, channelled above, keeled and 

 mostly whitened beneath. Anther cells opening trans- 

 versely. Cones, drooping, solitary, persistent. Seed re- 

 maining attached to the Aving. 



O O 



3. Picea, FIR. Leaves, petioled, somewhat two- 

 ranked. Cones, erect at maturity, the scales falling from 

 the persistent axis. Seeds, falling freely from the wing, 

 and having balsamiferous vesicles. 



1. ABIES. SPRUCE. 



The Spruces proper are found most plentifully in 

 America, but are also natives of portions of Europe and 

 Asia, especially the colder sections. The finest speci- 

 mens are from our north-west coast. A large majority of 

 the Spruces being natives of a climate somewhat similar to 

 our own, have very fortunately proven available in land- 

 scape gardening with us in many situations. As a gen- 

 eral rule, all plants from the Pacific coast, although coming 

 from equally as cold a climate as our own, and in many 

 instances even more rigid, are destroyed by the sudden 

 changes of our Eastern winters. 



Although not equalling in value the Pines proper, the 

 timber furnished by the Spruces is, in many instances, of 

 great use in the arts. The White Deal of the Abies ex- 

 celsa and of the Abies Canadensis is celebrated in their 

 respective countries for cheapness and value. Other 

 species also furnish excellent lumber, although not in 

 great quantities. 



The resinous sap that exudes from the different species 

 is not of equal value with that of the Pines, but is never- 

 theless occasionally used for various minor purposes. The 



