16 THE FOREST FLORA AND CONDITIONS OF 



of black spruce (Picea mariana) are found in the densest 

 of pure growth. It is sometimes associated in limited 

 numbers with the Southern subalpine fir (Abies fraseri), 

 and very often extends dowji the mountain-sides among 

 the hard woods. A thick mat of soft moss covers the 

 underlying broken and fissured rocks where these spruces 

 grow, and the timber stands so close that the Washington 

 (state) elk would certainly have to take in his horns 

 in passing through. The timber is of commercial value, 

 both in abundance and size, and has never been touched; 

 but lumbering at from four thousand to six thousand feet 

 elevation requires more capital and enterprise than lower 

 down among the white pines. Black spruce occurs most- 

 ly on the upper peaks of the mountains all along the 

 eastern border of the state, but in a few localities may 

 be found in small quantities scattered among lowland, 

 hard woods along streams and in wet, mucky land of the 

 lower valleys. In still rarer instances trees are known to 

 exist in limited numbers in the western counties of East 

 Tennessee; in one case as far out as Grundy County. 



The conspicuous but less valuable Fraser balsam, of 

 the same relative habitat, is often found clothing the 

 high peaks with its dark evergreen growth. It forms 

 very dense stands on the summits, but is occasionally 

 found lower down mingled with hard woods and spruces. 

 For the most part this fir occurs only in the counties 

 lying along the great divide and extends over into 

 North Carolina. The light, soft wood of the Fraser bal- 

 sam is of little or no importance commercially, being 

 very like that of its congener, the Northern balsam fir 

 (Abies 'balsamea) . The Tennessee mountaineers cather 

 the thick resin from the long, narrow "blisters" in the 

 bark of this tree. The blisters are punctured and the 

 resin allowed to run into a rude gourd bottle. Its well- 

 known medicinal properties give it a ready sale and fur- 

 nish a small revenue to the mountaineer. But our city 

 boys would consider the money too well earned, for it 

 takes many a blister to make an ounce and many a mile's 

 steep, hard climbing before the trees are reached. 



