BALSAM FIR. 227 



Uses. The Douglas Spruce is a fine ornamental tree of grace- 

 ful proportions, good color, rapid growth and wonderful hardi- 

 ness. Probably one of the most valuable evergreens for general 

 planting in Minnesota, and apparently destined to partly super- 

 sede the White and Norway Spruce for this purpose. It is also 

 the most promising foreign tree for sowing on the cut-over tim- 

 ber lands of this section, and should be largely experimented 

 with for this purpose. Two varieties are distinguished by lum- 

 bermen, the Red and the Yellow Fir, the former is coarse 

 grained and dark colored, and considered less valuable than the 

 latter. Both kinds are largely manufactured into lumber, and 

 used for all kinds of construction, railway ties, piles, etc. 



Genus ABIES. 



Trees of pyramidal habit. Leaves sessile, flat, with the midrib 

 prominent on the lower surface, appearing two-ranked by a twist 

 near the base, giving the horizontal branches a flat appearance. 

 Cones erect on the upper side of the branches, maturing the first 

 year, when the scales fall, leaving the naked axes standing erect 

 on the branches. 



Abies balsamea. Balsam Fir. Balsam. 



Leaves narrow, linear, one-half to three-quarters of an inch 

 long, dark green above, whitened on the under side, falling dur- 

 ing the fifth season. Cones cylindrical, two to four inches long, 

 and one inch thick,' violet colored; bracts shorter than the scales 

 and tipped with a slender point. The branches grow out usually 

 in whorls of about five each, with great regularity, and diminish- 

 ing in length from below upwards, forming a symmetrical pyra- 

 midal top. This is a very striking habit, and gives to the Balsam 

 Fir swamps a characteristic aspect. Tree slender, sometimes 

 eighty feet high. 



Distribution. Northeastern United States and Canada, south- 

 ward to Virginia, westward beyond the Mississippi and far north 

 to Hudson Bay and northwest? to Rocky Mountains; growing in 

 swamps and cold damp woods. In Minnesota almost confined 

 to the northeastern half of the state, extending south to Chisago 

 and Isanti counties. 



