26 TREE PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



WHITE OK SINGLE SPRUCE, P. alba. 



Common, yet scattered northward; grows on drained soils; sometimes 

 attains to two or three feet in diameter, spiring up majestically in a clean 

 tapering trunk, handsomely tufted in a pyramidal form. Flowers in 

 May; needle-like leaves, about half an indh long, covering all sides of the 

 branches; cones small and pretty; scales loose and thin; seeds fall out the 

 first of the winter. A tree of longevity and one of the hardiest of the 

 conifers. It differs from the Black Spruce in that its leaves are less nu- 

 merous, longer and more pointed, and their color paler; being a bluish 

 green, like those of the White Pine. The seeds are smaller than those of 

 the Black, but the cones are more elongated; and the bark is lighter col- 

 ored. When macerated in water, the fibres of the roots, like those of the 

 Larch, are flexible and tough, used by Indians to stitch together their 

 birch bark canoes. A tree of special value, which, with the Black Spruce 

 and poplars, is used for wood pulp. Belongs with the " survival of the 

 fittest." 



hemlock spkuce or hemlock, Tsuga Canadensis. 



Scarce; a few, it is said, are growing on the St. Louis waters and upper 

 Mississippi in Itaska county. Is pretty when young, grand in maturity! 

 Wood of old trees is shaky; used for roof boards, studding, etc. 



balsam fir, Abies balsamea. 



A small northern tree, found mainly in groups. In our wild woodlands 

 is apt to be heart-rotted and hollow, but not so when planted in good 

 soil. Handsome when young, pyramidal and graceful. Leaves narrow 

 and flat; bright green above, white beneath. Cones cylindrical. Wood 

 makes excellent butter firkins and the like. A popular tree for the lawn. 

 Blisters form on the smooth bark containing an agreeable balm, used con- 

 siderably in certain stages of pulmonary diseases. 



American or black larch, Larix Americana. 



This tree, known also as Tamarac and Hacmatac, is common in most all 

 our swamp lands; grows naturally also on drier hard ground. A magni- 

 ficent tree, straight, slender trunk, sometimes 60, 80 and even 100 feet in 

 height, two to three feet in diameter. Branches near the summit; bark 

 smooth as if polished; leaves flexible, in bunches, shed in the fall; renewed 

 in the spring. Male and female flowers separate on same tree, as with the 

 pines. 



Wood very strong and durable. Largely used for knees to vessels in the 

 East. Constitutes first-class railroad ties, surpassed only by the white 

 oak. Preference obtains for the European species, but it is questionable 

 whether, in all instances, the American is not better for America. A most 

 valuable tree is our larch, but wofully neglected to be devoured by our 

 forest fires. The nursery sort grown from seeds will do well in our cul- 

 tivated ravines and fielis. 



