ABIES BALSAMEA, MILL. 21 



the southern part of the state, in the extensive swamps around 

 the sources of the Contoocook and Miller's rivers, it is the pre- 

 vailing timber; Vermont, common; not rare on mountain 

 slopes and even summits ; Massachusetts, not uncommon 

 on mountain slopes in the northwestern and central portions 

 of the state, ranging above the red spruces upon Graylock ; 

 a few trees here and there in damp woods or cold swamps in 

 the southern and eastern sections, where it has probably been 

 accidentally introduced ; Ehode Island and Connecticut, 

 not reported. 



South to Pennsylvania and along high mountains to Virginia ; 

 west to Minnesota. 



Habit. A slender, handsome tree, the most symmetrical of 

 the New England spruces, with a height of 25-60 feet, and a 

 diameter of 1-2 feet at the ground, reduced to a shrub at high 

 altitudes ; branches in young trees usually in whorls ; branch- 

 lets mostly opposite. The branches go out from the trunk at 

 an angle varying to a marked degree even in trees of about 

 the same size and apparent age ; in some trees declined near 

 the base, horizontal midway, ascending near the top ; in others 

 horizontal or ascending throughout; in others declining through- 

 out like those of the Norway spruce ; all these forms growing 

 apparently under precisely the same conditions; head widest 

 at the base and tapering regularly upward ; foliage dark bright 

 green ; cones erect and conspicuous. 



Bark. Bark of trunk in old trees a variegated ashen gray, 

 appearing smooth at a short distance, but often beset with 

 fine scales, with one edge scarcely revolute, giving a ripply 

 aspect ; branches and young trees mottled or striate, greenish- 

 brown and very smooth ; branchlets from which the leaves 

 have fallen marked with nearly circular leaf -scars ; season's 

 shoots pubescent ; bark of trunk in all trees except the oldest 

 with numerous blisters, containing the Canada balsam of 

 commerce. 



Winter Buds and Leaves. Buds small, roundish, resinous, 

 grouped on the leading shoots. Leaves scattered, spirally 

 arranged in rows, at right angles to twig, or disposed in two 



