EVERGREEN ORNAMENTAL TREES. 225 



The Fir Trees. Abies. 



J\rat. Ord. Coniferee. Lin. Sijst. Moiioecia, 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 Fines. They generally grow in a more conical man- 

 ner 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,) some- 

 times also called the American Silver Fir, is one of the most 

 ornamental of our native evergreens. It is found most abun- 

 dantly in Maine, and Nova Scotia, but is scattered more or 

 less on the mountain tops, and in cold swamps, through va- 

 rious other parts of the Union. At Pine Orchard, near the 

 Catskill Mountain-house, it flourishes well, though not 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 top of the branches. It is one 

 of the most beautiful evergreens for planting in the grounds 

 near the house, and is perhaps more cultivated for that pur- 

 pose, 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, still they are interesting, as they display the same sym- 

 metry as full grown trees. The deep green colour of the ver- 



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