242 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



pines, but collects of itself in little swellings 

 on the trunk and branches ; and is procured 

 by breaking these swellings and receiving the 

 turpentine in bottles ; the turpentine of the 

 balm of Gilead is a greenish fluid, about 

 as thick as honey, and has a sharp, biting 

 taste." 



" It is used as a medicine, is it not, Uncle 

 Philip ?" 



" Yes ; but there is another balm of Gilead 

 that is much better ; it is got from a very 

 different sort of plant that grows in Asia. 

 The balm of Gilead that we are speaking of, 

 is sometimes given in consumptions, but I 

 believe it is not much esteemed by physicians. 

 The wood is very light, and almost useless, 

 partly because it wants strength, and partly 

 on account of its small size ; for the silver fir 

 is but a little tree ; but it is much the most 

 beautiful of all the spruces, as well from its 

 regular shape, as from the pleasing colour 

 and variety of its foliage : its cones always 

 grow pointing upwards, and they are much 

 larger than any of the others ; I have seen 

 them five inches long ; they are of a light 

 purple colour. 



