240 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



matter that is got from another kind of 

 spruce, that called the balm of Gilead ; but 

 when they cannot get that, they use the tur- 

 pentine of the white spruce itself, which an- 

 swers the purpose very well." 



" Then the white spruce is not a useless 

 tree, Uncle Philip." 



" Oh no ; very far from it ; although the 

 wood is none of the best. 



" The hemlock spruce, like all the other 

 kinds, flourishes only in cold climates, and is 

 seldom found even as far south as New- York. 

 It is a large tree, and grows slowly ; the 

 leaves are short and flat, very dark green, and 

 only grow in two ranks ; that is, one on each 

 side of the branches : the cones are very 

 small, about as large as the first joint of my 

 little finger, and sharp-pointed. The wood 

 of the hemlock is inferior to both the black and 

 the white, but still it is considerably used where 

 white pine is scarce : its greatest fault is in not 

 splitting in straight lines, but always crooked ; 

 its most general use is for flooring. But still 

 the hemlock is a very useful tree, on account 

 of its bark, which is good for tanning." 



" Is it better than oak-bark, Uncle Philip ?" 



