and the true spruces. The Douglas lir is quite extensively planted as 



ornamental tree in the Kastern Tinted States and numerous forms or 



ieties are in cultivation. It is a tree of rapid growth, especially when 



ited in fertile, moist soil. It appears to be adapted, however, to 



,\v in rather dry alkaline soils, but in such situations the growth is 



lath rly slow. It is quite readily grown from seeds which are of good 



winged and nearly triangular in form. 



The Douglas lir is extensively used in this state under the name of 



spruce and when obtained from 

 the foothills, it is largely used 

 for telephone poles, fence posts 

 mine props and the young 

 trees are gathered in winter 

 for Christmas trees. Most of 

 the lumber sold on the markets 

 under the name of Oregon pine is 

 of this species. It is one of our 

 most valuable structural timbers as 

 the wood is exceedingly strong as 

 compared with its weight, while 

 it possesses a good degree of dur- 

 ability in contact with the soil. 

 In the matter of strength and 

 Ktiffneso, it stands second only to 

 Southern long-leaf pine and is 

 adapted to a great variety of pur- 

 poses from that of heavy frame- 

 work to the manufacture of floor- 

 ing and interior finish. 



i. (IKNTS 



THE HAL-SAM FIRS, BALSAMS, FIRS. 



Tin- balsam firs are tall-growing, conical trees, often of great 

 symmetry, which resemble in general appearance the spruces. They are 

 fond of the higher altitudes where the cold air and the moisture of 

 frequent storms bring them to their greatest perfection. 



Tin- needles, lik> those of the spruce and the Douglas fir, are single 

 and grow from all sides of tin; branchlets. Those on the lower sides of 

 the t \\igs, however, turn upward in such a way as to form flattened masses 

 of foliage of frond-like appearance. The needles are flattened, usually 

 grooved on the upper side with a slightly projecting midrib below. Those 

 on the loucr branches and on young trees are often slightly notched at 

 the tip. \shile those on cone-bearing twigs are usually somewhat pointed. 

 The branches arise in whorls from the sides of the main trunk so that 

 /.lien \jewed from the side, such trees often appear to have the foliage 

 arranged in circular terraces of great beauty. 



The bark on young trunks is smooth, but marked for some time with 

 the needle seal's. Numerous resin blisters, containing liquid pitch are 



