The Spruces. 



333 



the northern part of Maine and further north in Canada. The latter 

 forms extensive forests in Northern New England and New York, 

 and both extend along the mountains southward to North Carolina, 

 but do not occur as important timber trees in that region. 



161. Picea excelna: Common European or Norway Spruce, Leaves, 

 Blossoms, and a False Cone formed from Insect Injuries. 



1351. The wood of both the white and the black spruce is white, 

 strong, and elastic, but rather coarse-grained. It is much prized for 

 flooring, and for building-timber, but is not durable when exposed 

 to the weather, excepting when laid with the grain of the wood 

 vertical. Shingles made of spruce are sometimes very good, but are 

 inferior to those of white pine, cypress, cedar, red-wood, and manyi 

 other kinds. 



1352. From its lightness and strength, this wood is valued for 

 yard-arms and small masts in vessels. The roots and base of the 

 trunk are used for knees for canal-boats, barges, etc. The spruce 

 best adapted for working, and the strongest, most elastic, and most 

 durable, comes from elevated regions, a dry soil, and a southern ex- 



